Urolithiasis in northeast Bombay: seasonal prevalence and chemical composition of stones

Abstract

The seasonal prevalence of urinary calculus disease from the records of L.T. Municipal General Hospital, Sion, Bombay, which primarily caters services to poor people of Northeast Bombay, especially Dharavi slum area, is reported. The qualitative and quantitative compositions of stones collected from the patients of Dharavi slum area are also described. Interestingly, the prevalence of bladder stones (BSF) was lower than that of upper urinary tract stones (UUTSF) which suggests the possibility of involvement of environmental pollution. As regards total number of stone patients, a sharp fall in male BSF in March and increase in male UUTSF in November were evident. In females the number was maximum in April in both BSF and UUTSF. However, no recognizable pattern of seasonal variation was seen in operated stone patients indicating that metabolically active disease is unrelated to season. Prevalence of bladder stones in children was high and male/female ratio was about 5. All stones were of the mixed type. Infection was not a major contributor of stone growth. Calcium oxalate was the major constituent and ammonium acid urate was present in the majority of stones.