Frequency of urinary tract infection in children with febrile convulsion

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common childhood bacterial infection second to upper respiratory tract infection. Kidneys scar, hypertension and chronic kidney disease are grave complications due to urinary tract infection in pediatric age group. Clinical manifestations of UTI in infancy are nonspecific, therefore, UTI should be considered in any child with fever. The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence of UTI in children with febrile convulsion (FC) and to provide a protocol for urinary tract infection work up. Subjects & Methods: All children aged 6 months to 5 years old with FC admitted in emergency wards in two teaching hospital, worked up for UTI, by urinalysis and urine culture. Leukocyturia with positive urine culture was labeled as UTI. Bacterial colony count ³104/ ml urine in sample bag or clean catch midstream urine sample and any colony in suprapubic urine sample were considered as positive urine culture. Results: Mean age of 596 children with FC (including 299 girls, 297 boys) was 13 months, 507 cases had simple FC. UTI was detected in 5 boys and 49 girls. FC associated with UTI had significant statistical correlation with gender (girl), age (less than 24 months) and occurrence date of FC due to fever (FC occurrence in first 24 hours of fever). There were no statistical correlations with type of FC, history of FC and severity of body temperature. Conclusion: Urinary tract infection is common in infantile period with non specific clinical manifestations. We recommended working up all female children with FC for urinary tract infection in order to appropriate diagnosis and treatment, more follow up and checking including VCUG and isotope DMSA scan. Acknowledgement: This study was supported by a grant from the Vice chancellor for research of the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences for the research project as a resident thesis with approval number of 87783. We would like to thank Ms. Saeide seyed hoseini for typing of the manuscript. The authors have no conflict of interest.