Study of the prevalence of urinary tract infection in febrile children attending paediatric OPD in Government medical college and general hospital, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Background: Children with fever comprise a major proportion of our practice in outpatient department of Paediatric. Among the fever cases Urinary tract infection is the third most common cause of febrile illness in children. The emphasis on identification of urinary tract infections in febrile children is minimal. Very often, children receive antibiotics empirically, without any adequate evaluation for urinary tract infection. The objective of our study is to determine the prevalence of urinary tract infection in all febrile children from 1months to 5 years of age.Methods: A prospective study was undertaken in the department of Pediatrics, Government medical college, Srikakulam. Urine was collected from enrolled febrile patients and sent for routine microscopic examination as well as for culture and sensitivity.Results: The study included 500 children. Females were 256(51.2%) and males were 244(48.8%). The total prevalence of UTI cases were 6%. The incidence in <1 year was 7.05%, 1-2 years was 5.97 % and >2 years was 5.35%. The prevalence of UTI was higher among females (7.68%) than males (4.68%). Apart from fever, the commonest symptoms were dysuria, abdominal pain, vomiting, chills and rigors and loss of appetite. Urine culture shows E. coli followed by Klebsiella were found to contribute the maximum number of cases.Conclusions: Possibility of Urinary Tract Infection must be considered in all febrile children and urine culture specimen must be collected as a part of diagnostic evaluation.