In September 2008 there was an outbreak of childhood urinary stones induced by melamine-tainted milk formulae. The Chinese paediatricians and paediatric nephrologists devoted their effort and hard work immediately to screen a large number of children exposed to melamine-tainted milk for renal stones, obstruction of the urinary tract and impaired renal function. Paediatricians also initiated studies on the clinical aspects and the pathogenesis of melamine related stones. Through this conjoint research effort, we found that (1) children exposed to high melamine formula were seven times more likely to have urinary stones as compared with those not exposed; (2) most children were asymptomatic and seldom had symptoms such as oliguria, crying on urination, oedema or history of passing out stones; (3) symptoms did not distinguish children with urinary stones from those with suspected stones or without stones; (4) infants and children who were born preterm were 4.5 times more likely to have stones as compared to those who were born at term.1展开▼
