URINARY TRACT INFECTION IN KERBALA GOVERNORATE CHILDREN, CAUSES AND INFLUENCING FACTORS

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) is one of the most frequent types of bacterial infection in humans; children are not an exemption, UTI is so common among young ages; it caused by pathological germs (kidneys, bladder, urethra, prostate). It is one of the significant difficulties facing the health sector in third-world nations, affecting children of all ages. UTI is are one of the severe problems that place a financial burden on the healthcare system, as the number of incidents worldwide might exceed 150 million in a single year, and infants and children are more prone to the disease's risks. This study was conducted on (1334) children ( males 611/ 45.8%, females723/54.2%) between the ages of one day - 12 years who visited Karbala governorate hospitals and some children's clinics in the governorate to determine whether the injuries are related to the months of the year, the environment, the parent's educational level and if females or males are more affected. The number of samples that gave positive results was 525(66.62%), and the number of negative samples was 263(33.38%). This study showed that the highest percentage of positive samples was recorded in January 54(10.29%), and the lowest rate of infection was recorded on April 36 (6.86%). This study found significant differences in the distribution of disease cases between residents of the rural environment 356 (69.13% and residents of the urban environment 169(61.9%). The educational level of the parents directly and significantly affects urinary tract infections in children. The highest incidence of urinary tract infection was in school-aged 143 (27,24%). The lowest incidence was in newborns, 42(8.0%) among all gender. The study showed significant differences (0.05) in the distribution of injuries between males and females between different age groups, where the highest injury was recorded among females school-aged 102 (33.77%).