PREVALENCE AND AETIOLOGICAL FACTORS OF URINARY TRACT INFECTION IN FEBRILE CHILDREN 2 MONTHS TO 2 YEARS

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of urinary tract infection and etiological factors in recurrent urinary tract infections in febrile children, 2 months to 2 years of age. METHODS It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted in the OPD of a tertiary care teaching hospital; 239 children between the ages of 2 months to 2 years with fever of more than 5 days were evaluated for UTI. Those who have >5 pus cells in urine analysis, urine culture was done. Children with recurrent UTI were evaluated by abdominal ultrasonogram, MCU and DMSA scan. RESULTS Total number of children studied were 239, prevalence of urinary tract infection was 11.3%, 2-6 months of age (18.75%) and 7-12 months of age (14.14%). E. coli constituted 62.96%. Among children with recurrent urinary tract infection, pyelonephritic changes in DMSA scan were present in 4 (36.3%) and VUR was present in 2 (16%) in MCU. CONCLUSIONS Urinary tract infection is a significant problem to be looked for in febrile children 2 months to 2 years. In recurrent UTI, any underlying problems like VUR should be considered and evaluated.