Prospective study on urinary tract infections and vesicoureteral reflux in two pediatric offices

Objective: This study aims to determine the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs), as well as the presenting symptoms, the germs involved and possible association with genitourinary tract malformation. Materials and methods: This is a descriptive study carried out in two paediatric health care offices which attend a total of 1.771 children. During a period of 16 months all children who consulted for symptoms suggestive of UTI underwent urine biochemistry test and cultures with antibiotic sensibility test. Those children diagnosed of UTI underwent a renal ecography and serial cistoureterography. Results: 33 cases of UTI were diagnosed (20 male and 13 female), the most common age group being that of children under 6 months of age (45.45%). An incidence of 1.86 was found. The most common clinical manifestations were anorexia (45.45%), fever (30.30%) and growth retardation (18.18%). The most frequently isolated germ was Echerichia coli (69.70%). In 10 cases anomalies were found in the ecography, the most frequent being pielic ectasy in 6 children (60%). Vesicoureteral reflux was seen, by means of the cistoureterography, in 10 cases, mainly type II (71.40%). Conclusions: The primary health paediatrician is the person who should suspect, diagnose and treat UTIs, as well as begin the study of possible urinary tract anomalies.