An unusual cause of recurrent urinary tract infection in a male patient and diagnostic challenge: a case report

Abstract

Introduction: Approximately 5 % of all urological stones are attributed to bladder stones. Several risk factors are associated with the development of bladder stones including urinary stasis. Conditions such as benign prostate hypertrophy may cause bladder stones to develop in males. This is a unique cause of urinary tract infection without prostate enlargement resulting in a giant bladder stone in male patient.

Case presentation: A 42-year-old male patient presented with complaints of on and off lower abdominal pains for more than 2 months associated with frequent urination. He has been treated multiple times for urinary tract infection without success.

Discussion: Urinary tract infection in male patients, especially adults is a rare entity. This is a case of recurrent UTI resulting from two giant bladder stones in resource-limited settings.

Conclusion: Urinary tract infections in males should not be overlooked. Hidden predisposing factors such as bladder stones may result in this entity. Proper imaging modalities including plain radiographs should be used as the initial management plan for males presenting with features suggestive of urinary tract infection.

Keywords: Bladder stones; Recurrent urinary tract infections.

Fig. 1

Showing two giant bladder stones extracted from a patient after performing a cystostomy due to failure of conventional cystoscopy.