DOI: 10.36347/sasjm.2015.v01i04.011

Pages: Page: 176-183

The prevalence of nephrolithiasis is increasing and there is a great concern about the role of public water in urinary calculus formation. This study aims to determine the quality of tap water and detect any relationship with nephrolithiasis in 5 regions of Hail, Saudi Arabia. Tap waters samples were brought from 5 regions of Hail. All samples were subjected to physical examination including electrical conductivity (EC), pH, turbidity and total dissolved solids (TDS), chemical analysis including calcium, magnesium, total hardness and alkalinity. Microbiological examination was done. Physical and chemical results of all samples were within the standard values with no microbiological contamination. However, different water samples showed differences in levels. Increased electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids were found in Alkhuta and Qnaa. A high pH value was found in Hail, Ugda and Twaran, while high water turbidity was detected in Twaran. High calcium level and total water hardens was found in Alkhuta and Qnaa. Magnesium level was high Alkhuta, Qnaa and Ugda while low level was detected in Hail. Total water alkalinity was high in Qnaa. 65 % of involved patients had urinary symptoms. 27% of patients had calcium oxalate crystals, 45% had uric acid crystals and 36% had urate crystals. 41% of patients had bacteriurea, and 5% had yeast. Utrasonography (US) examination revealed renal gravels (39%), renal stones (9%), nephrosis (2%), and hydronephrosis (1%). Alkhuta and Qnaa revealed high EC, TDS, calcium and total hardness with high prevalence of renal gravels and renal stones. Ugda samples revealed high pH and patients had high urine calcium oxalate, uric acid and bacterurea. Twaran samples revealed high pH and turbidity with high calcium oxalate crystals and prevalent of renal gravels with one case of hydronephrosis.