Paediatric urinary tract calculus disease

Abstract Urinary tract calculi are relatively rare in children in developed countries. The two major causes of stones are metabolic and infective. All children with stones should be comprehensively investigated. Bladder stones are quite common in developing countries due to multiple factors. The management of urinary tract stones is now generally minimally invasive, with techniques such as extracorporeal short-wave lithotripsy, mini-percutaneous nephrolithotomy, ureteroscopy, ureterorenoscopy, and laparoscopic interventions, with open surgery being reserved for specific situations, when there is an anatomical abnormality of the urinary tract. With advances in technology and instrumentation, the renal tract is becoming more accessible with smaller instruments, thereby reducing post-operative morbidity and hospital stays.