The aim: of this study was to assess the incidence and the cause of hospitalization of children with cholecystolithiasis.
Material and methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out using medical data of children and adolescents treated in the Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology, and Pediatric Allergology of Bialystok Medical University. The analysis included causes of hospitalization, its course and accompanying illnesses. During the 4 years of analysis, 47 children (17 boys, 30 girls), aged from 7 months to 18 years, with the diagnosis of cholecystolithiasis were treated. The comprised 1.18% of children hospitalized with gastrointestinal disorders.
Results: Cholecystolithiasis without complications was diagnosed in 29 children (61.7%), with cholecystitis in 13 (27.7%), choledocholithiasis was diagnosed in 5 children (10.6%). In 11 children (23.4%) the complication presented in form of acute pancreatitis. In 23 children (48.9%) factors predisposing to chorocholelithiasis were identified. In 20, the following were considered to be a possible significant factor: in 7 children there was a positive family history (14.9%), in 6 children (12.8%) - it was obesity, in 3 children (6.4%) lipid metabolic errors: prematurity and parenteral feeding in 2 children (4.3%) and spherocytosis in 2 children (4.3%). Apart from the above, cholelithiasis was diagnosed in two children with hypothyreosis and in two with Down's Syndrome. In treatment of 20 children (42.6%) antibiotics were prescribed and in 4 children (8.5%) endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed. 25 children (53.2%) were referred for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In 16 children (34.0%), treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid was recommended.
Conclusions: Cholecystolithiasis is a rare cause of hospitalization in pediatric departments. However, it occurs in even the youngest children. It usually runs without complications, but there is a certain risk of serious complications. In the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain, cholelithiasis should be taken into account, even in the youngest children. Special consideration should be given to the premature, with low birth weight and extremely low birth weight.