EDITORIAL Gezira Journal Of Health Sciences 2014 vol.10(1) Gezira Journal Of Health Sciences 2014 vol.10(1) Endemic Vesical Stones in Sudanese Children Seen at Gezira National Center for Pediatric Surgery Mohanned A M Osman 1 , Faisal A Nugud 2 and Osman T M Osman 3 1. M.B.B.S Omdurman Islamic University-Part 1 General Surgery SMBS 2. MD, Associate Prof of Pediatric Surgery U of Gezira 3. Prof of Pediatric Surgery U of Gezira Correspondence to: Mohanned Abd Alkareem Mohamed Osman Idris E mail: faisal nugud2@yahoo.com Phone: 0919302314 Abstract: Objectives: To determine the pattern, demographic features, clinical features, the common types of vesical stones and diagnostic tools accuracy of endemic vesical stone in children. Materials and Methods: In this study the records of 73 patients with endemic vesical stones were reviewed at Gezira National Center For Pediatric Surgery (GNCPS). The data were analyzed for age, sex, locality, clinical features the diagnostic tools, the treatment offered and outcomes. Results: A total of 73 patients were included in this study, males were 64 (87.7%), < 5 years were 54 cases ( 74%), the majority from rural areas of low socio-economic status. Conclusion: Endemic vesical stones in children is common in males below 5 years and low socio-economic status, with UTI like symptoms and penile itching. Key words: Endemic vesical stone, GNCPS Introduction: Endemic bladder calculi virtually disappeared from Northern Europe during the late 19 th century, (1) and from Southern Europe by 1970. (2) The endemic bladder calculi have become rare in developed countries due to industrialization and improvement in nutrition and diet. The incidence of these stones is very low in Central and South America, Central and South Africa. However, these stones remain an important cause of morbidity in an endemic belt extending from the Middle-east across India and Thailand to Indonesia, including North Africa, whose economics primarily depends on agriculture. This belt includes Algeria , Sub Saharan Africa ,Rwanda , Ethiopia, Sudan , and Egypt , through Iraq , Iran , Afghanistan , India , South East Asia , and Indonesia. The stones are more common in India in the northern and western regions as compared to southern and eastern regions. There is simultaneous increase in upper urinary tract stones . (3,4,5,6,7,8) The incidence has decreased in the Philippines , Taiwan , and Singapore. (9,10,11) However these stones have also been found in the western Australian region , especially in aboriginal children . (12) These stones are typically found in infants and children of lower socio-economic status , children younger than 10 years are most commonly affected , with a peak incidence around 3 years . The male to female ratio is 10:1. (7,8,13) Material and Methods: brought to you by CORE View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk provided by Journals Of University Of Gezira