Comparison of Nalidixic acid and Trimethoprim â sulfamethoxazole in prophylaxis of recurrent urinary tract infection in children

Introduction: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common lifelong bacterial diseases.UTI can lead to serious complications such as renal scar, hypertension, and chronic renal failure. Prolonged prophylactic antibiotic is required in cases that are prone to occurrence and progression of renal scarring. Purpose of study is Comparison of Nalidixic acid and Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in prophylaxis of recurring urinary tract infection in children. Methods: 102 children, 1 to 15 years old, with urinary tract infection that needed prophylactic antibiotic for prophylaxis of UTI were enrolled in the study. Following treatment of the acute infection, children were randomly treated with prophylactic antibiotic therapy of nocturnal co-trimoxazol or nalidixic acid for 6 months. Results: Of all 102 patients, 50 cases received nalidixic acid and 52 cases received co-trimoxazol. These two groups had no significant difference regarding age and gender. During 6 months of follow-up, the recurrence was in 48 of the children undergoing prophylaxis therapy with nalidixic acid. This was significantly more than the group that received co-trimoxazol (21.1; p=0.006). Conclusion: Recurring urinary tract infection in the two groups was independent of age, sex and anatomical anomalies in kidneys. As prophylaxis with co-trimoxazol is more effective than nalidixic acid, it is recommended for prophylaxis of urinary infection.