Abstract

ARELLANO PEREZ, Carlos et al. Prevalence and risk factors for cholelithiasis in patients under 18 years of age at a second level health care hospital. Cir. gen [online]. 2012, vol.34, n.4, pp.267-270. ISSN 1405-0099.

Objective: To observe the prevalence of gallbladder lithiasis and risk factors in patients under 18 years in a second level health care hospital. Setting: General Hospital of Matamoros ''Dr. Alfredo Pumarejo Lafaurie'', Tamaulipas. Mexico. Design: Retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, observational study. Statistical analysis: Percentages as summary measure for qualitative variables. Patients and methods: We reviewed 706 clinical files of patients with choledocholithiasis diagnosed between January 2003 and December 2008. Studied variables were: age below 18 years, sex, familial antecedents of gallbladder lithiasis, hemolytic diseases, use of hormones, pregnancies, body mass index, predominating symptom, length of in-hospital stay, and histopathological study of the gallbladder. Results: We identified 26 cases with an average age of 12.8 years; all were women, 16 patients (61.5%) with antecedents of pregnancy. Only one patient had a normal weight, seven patients were overweight, eight patients coursed with obesity grade I, six with grade II, and four with grade III. All (100%) had antecedents of maternal gallbladder lithiasis. Conclusion: Prevalence of choledocholithiasis in patients under 18 years of age was of 3.6%. Associated risk factors for patients below 18 years of age are similar to those encountered over 18 years of age.

Keywords : Gallbladder lithiasis; pediatrics; cholelithiasis; children.

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