Choosing the Right Age Group for Ultrasonography Screening After Initial Childhood Urinary Tract Infection

The present study determined the frequency of urinary system anomaly in children aged 0–18 years suffering from first urinary tract infection (UTI) and identified the age group that requires urinary ultrasonography (USG) screening.

The study investigated age, gender, urine culture, urinary USG, and urological imaging results of 247 children with a first diagnosis of UTI. It found-

• USG detected anomalies in 27.5% of the patients suffering from the first UTI. 
• Hydronephrosis as the commonest anomaly.
• 61.8% of patients with anomalies detected at USG had Non-E. coli micro-organisms as the pathogenic agents.
• The age group of 0–5 years and the presence of atypical UTI as independent predictive markers of severe urinary system pathologies.

 This study shows that routine USG screening should be done in children suffering from first UTI under the age of 5 y and for children suffering from atypical UTI at all ages.

Kayak D, Tekin M, Konca C. Ultrasonography Results in First Urinary Tract Infection During Childhood: Which Age Group Should Be Screened?. Indian J Pediatr. 2023;90:671–676. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-022-04213-0