Evaluation and treatment of urinary tract infections in children. Am Fam Physician 1998 Apr 01;57(7):1573-80, 1583-4
Date
04/29/1998Pubmed ID
9556646Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0032053471 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 28 CitationsAbstract
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections encountered by primary care physicians. Although UTIs do not occur with as great a frequency in children as in adults, they can be a source of significant morbidity in children. For reasons that are not yet completely understood, a minority of UTIs in children progress to renal scarring, hypertension and renal insufficiency. Clinical presentation of UTI in children may be nonspecific, and the appropriateness of certain diagnostic tests remains controversial. The diagnostic work-up should be tailored to uncover functional and structural abnormalities such as dysfunctional voiding, vesicoureteral reflux and obstructive uropathy. A more aggressive work-up, including renal cortical scintigraphy, ultrasound and voiding cystourethrography, is recommended for patients at greater risk for pyelonephritis and renal scarring, including infants less than one year of age and all children who have systemic signs of infection concomitant with a UTI. Antibiotic prophylaxis is used in patients with reflux or recurrent UTI who are at greater risk for subsequent infections and complications.
Author List
Ahmed SM, Swedlund SKMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
ChildChild, Preschool
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Infant
Male
Patient Education as Topic
Recurrence
Urinary Tract Infections
Vesico-Ureteral Reflux
