Incidence and morbidity of urinary tract infection in a prospective cohort of children

AimInformation on the epidemiology of childhood urinary tract infections (UTIs) is scarce and mostly based on retrospective data. This study investigated incidence rates, morbidity and risk factors for UTIs in a prospective cohort of children. MethodsWe explored UTIs in a representative cohort of 1049 neonates from birth to 6years of age, using maternal interviews that were verified by hospital records. The majority (88.2%) completed the first-year, and more than half (56.2%) completed the 6-year follow-up. ResultsBy 6years of age, more than 10% of our sample had been affected by UTIs. The cumulative incidence for the first year of life was 3.77%, without significant differences between genders, and for one to 6years, it was 6.81% and 5.7 times higher in girls than boys. Clinical information was available for 63 children: 25 were hospitalised, 16 suffered recurrences, 10 received prophylaxis, eight had urinary tract malformations, three required surgery, and two had impaired renal function. ConclusionUTIs affected approximately 4% and 10% of children by the ages of one and 6years, respectively, and their incidence was related to gender and age. Morbidity was considerable, recurrences were common, and despite advances in management, long-term consequences may still be encountered.