European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Background: One of the most common reasons to visit OPD in subjects of age less than 5
years is fever. Very little attention is given to UTIs (urinary tract infections) as the cause of
fever compared to other infections getting more attention. Without evaluating UTIs
adequately, antibiotics are commonly given to children empirically. To minimize lifelong
morbidity and provide prompt treatment, identification of UTI in children with fever is vital.
Aims:The present study was conducted to assess the UTI prevalence in subjects of age under
5 years and to assess the validity of urine culture and urine analysis for diagnosing urinary
tract infection.

Background: Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) are a common cause of fever and are one of the most common bacterial infections seen in children. It is the most common reason that make under 5 children visit Emergency/Outpatient departments. The reported rate of recurrent UTI is around 12- 30% with risk greater in Infants < 6 months, severe vesico-ureteric reflux and abnormal nuclear renal scans at time of first infection.
Material and Method: Cross-sectional study was carried out among 378 children in age group of two months to six years who were admitted in Pediatrics ward of tertiary care hospital with complaint of Fever. A pre-designed, structured questionnaire was used to collect information from participants which included demographic data, clinical presentation and clinical examination findings. The diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infection was confirmed by urine culture. The collected information was entered in Microsoft-Excel 2007 Software. Data was analyzed by using SPSS software version 17.0.
Results: The prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection in the present study came out to be 11.9%. The age group and sex of child was found to have statistically significant association with Urinary Tract Infection. Pain in abdomen/back/flank, burning micturition and increased urine frequency were also having statistically significant association with Urinary Tract Infection. On Urine microscopy examination, occasional pus cells were observed in 3.97% children, less than 5/hpf pus cells were observed in 8.73%, 5-10/hpf pus cells were observed in 6.35% children whereas plenty of pus cells were observed in 12.7% children.
Conclusions: The prevalence of UTI was less in children less than 2 years of age. Females had a higher prevalence of UTI as compared to males.