Stones in the urinary bladder in children and young adults.

Bladder stones were diagnosed in 22 children and young adults at The Children's Hospital, Boston, from 1969 to 1985. One half of the patients were less than 12 years old (mean, 11.9 years). One or more lithogenic factors were implicated in all but two. The most common causes were the presence of an intravesical foreign body, infection with Proteus (a urea-splitting organism), exstrophy of the bladder, and the presence of intestinal mucosa in the urinary tract. The radiologic features of the stones were not specific, and no special techniques were needed to identify them. Heightened awareness of patients at risk will lead to prompt diagnosis and treatment.