Bhavani Shankar Rokkam1, Chowdary Babu Menni2, Ramu Pedada3, Deepak Kumar Alikana4
BACKGROUND
Urinary tract infections (UTI) constitute a common cause of morbidity in infants
and children. When associated with abnormalities of urinary tract, they may lead
to long-term complications including renal scarring, loss of function and
hypertension. Most urinary tract infections remain undiagnosed if investigations
are not routinely performed to detect them. Prompt detection and treatment of
urinary tract infections and any complicating factors are important. The objective
of the study is to know the clinical, epidemiological and bacteriological profile (i.e.
clinical signs and symptoms, age, sex, family history, associated urinary tract
abnormalities, & causative organisms) of urinary tract infections in febrile children
with culture positive urinary tract infection.
METHODS
This descriptive, cross sectional observational study was conducted at outpatient
clinics of our “child health clinics” between May 2016 and April 2017 (one year).
All children aged 0 to 12 years with culture positive urinary tract infections were
included in this study to evaluate the clinical, epidemiological and bacteriological
profile.
RESULTS
A total of 69 children with culture positive urinary tract infections were included in
this study. Out of 69 children included in this study, 36 (52.2 %) were females
and 33 (47.8 %) were males. Overall female preponderance was seen and the M:
F ratio was 0.9:1. But during first year of life in our study group we had more boys
(10, 14.49 %) affected with urinary tract infection than girls. 49.3 % of urinary
tract infections in the present study belonged to lower socio-economic status. Most
common organism causing urinary tract infection in our group was E. coli (56.5
%). Fever (100 %), anorexia or refusal of feeds (52.2 %), dysuria (46.4 %),
vomiting (46.4 %) and abdominal pain (39.1 %) were the predominant clinical
manifestations observed in our study.
CONCLUSIONS
Urinary tract infection is a common medical problem in children and it should be
considered as a potential cause of fever in children. As febrile children with urinary
tract infection usually present with non-specific signs and symptoms, urine culture
should be considered as a part of diagnostic evaluation.
