Prevalence of cholelithiasis in a living Saudi adult female population [ultrasonic study]

To study the prevalence of asymptomatic gallstones in living adult females. Design: Prospective hospital-based study of 8 months' duration. Randomly selected asymptomatic adult females presented to King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah Outpatient clinic. All asymptomatic patients were examined ultrasonically to prove the presence or absence of gallstones. Some associated risk factors [age, parity, pills] were examined. Forty nine percent of all samples had asymptomatic gallstones. Asymptomatic gallstones were significantly associated [p less than .05] with old age, diabetes and multiparous. The prevalence of asymptomatic gallstones in our community is among the lowest in the world. However, more in-depth epidemiological studies are required

Gallbladder schistosomiasis

Schistosomiasis [bilharziasis] is a major health problems in many parts of the world, including Saudi Arabia. Although the liver is one of the most commonly affected organs, the biliary system is seldom affected and gallbladder schistosomiasis is extremely rare and has never been reported in Saudi Arabia. A case of gallbladder bilharziasis is presented and the world literature on the subject from 1966 till the end of 1993 is reviewed. The highest reported incidence is 2.5% of 1220 autopsy cases of bilharziasis; different aspects of gallbladder bilharziasis are also discussed