Urinary tract infection in infants and children with diarrhoea

ABSTRACT

To determine when children with acute diarrhoea should be investigated for urinary tract infection [UTI], we studied 120 patients and 120 healthy age- and sex- matched controls aged 4 weeks to 5 years. In those with positive or suspicious urine cultures, bacteriuria or pyuria, urine culture was repeated. We detected UTI in 8 patients [all < 2 years] and 1 boy in the control group. In those with UTI, invasive diarrhoea was observed in 1, fever in 7 and vomiting in 5 patients. In children with acute diarrhoea, investigation for UTI is only recommended for febrile, female infants aged 5- 15 months