Document Type : original article
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of pediatric nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Khorasan Razavi, Iran
2
1. Department of Community Medicine, Leishmaniasis research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
3
Department of Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar Iran.
4
2. Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
10.22038/jpp.2026.95163.5640
Abstract
Introduction: UTI is the most common serious bacterial infection in infancy and childhood. Identifying factors associated with its recurrence is crucial. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlation of abnormalities reported in urinary ultrasonography and other imaging studies in children hospitalized with UTI.
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on 116 children under 16 years of age diagnosed with UTI and admitted to Heshmatieh Hospital in Sabzevar in 2019. Recurrent UTI was defined as ≥2 episodes of febrile UTI. After obtaining informed consent, demographic data, clinical presentation, urinalysis, urine culture results, and findings from renal and urinary tract imaging were recorded. Median and interquartile range (IQR) were reported for skewed continuous variables. Proportions are presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20, with Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests employed for comparisons.
Results: The mean age was 40.45 ± 48.38 months (median: 18.0 months, with 75% being female. The most common presenting symptom was fever. E. coli was the most frequently isolated pathogen. Radiological investigations revealed urinary stones in 7.8%, hydronephrosis in 16.4%, and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in 57.1% of those imaged. Other structural anomalies were found in 23.3%. A significant correlation was observed between the presence of hydronephrosis (p=0.001) ,VUR ( p=0.024) , and other structural abnormalities ( p<0.001) with a history of recurrent UTI.
Conclusion: A significant proportion of children with UTIs, particOdularly those with recurrent infections, have underlying structural and functional urinary tract abnormalities. Comprehensive renal and urinary tract imaging in these high-risk children is essential for timely identification and management to prevent recurrent infections and potential long-term complications.
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