Introduction
Children with fever comprise a substantial proportion of the practice in outpatient department and Emergency Medicine. Fever is the most common reason for children under 5 years of age to visit Emergency / outpatient departments. Unlike occult bacteraemia or severe bacterial illness (in infants and children) little attention has been focused on the identification of urinary tract infections in febrile children in the emergency department, despite recent information that suggests a high prevalence of urinary tract infections and significant associated morbidity in these patients. Quite often, child receives antibiotics empirically, without adequate evaluation for urinary tract infection. Fever, however, is often the only symptom in children with urinary tract infections.
Fever and significant bacteriuria and pyuria in children with undocumented sources of infections must be presumed to be symptoms of pyelonephritis, an invasive infection of the renal parenchyma requiring prompt treatment.
Recent studies using renal parenchyma - avid nuclear scans to determine the presence of urinary tract infection have revealed that more than 75% of children under 5 years of age with febrile urinary tract infection have pyelonephritis.1, 2, 3
Pyelonephritis leads to renal scarring in 27% to 64% of children with urinary tract infections in this age group, even in the absence of underlying urinary tract abnormalities. 4, 5 Most urinary tract infections that lead to scarring or diminished kidney growth occur in children younger than 4 years of age especially among infants in the first year of life 2, 5 those with gross reflux or obstruction and those who have a delay in therapy for urinary tract infection. Among children under 3 years of age with recurrent urinary infections, putting them at higher risk for renal scarring, as many as one-third being asymptomatic. 6
It is essential to identify urinary tract infections in febrile children and institute prompt treatment to reduce the potential for lifelong morbidity. Progressive renal damage from unrecognized pyelonephritis in childhood may lead to hypertension and chronic renal failure in later life.
A study from Sweden showed that focal renal scarring caused by pyelonephritis in children carried a 23% risk for hypertension a 10% risk for end - stage renal disease, and a 15% risk for toxemia during pregnancy as an adult. 7 Approximately 13% to 15% of end - stage renal disease is thought to be related to urinary tract infection in childhood that was often unrecognized and therefore, under treated. 8
The present study is undertaken to estimate the prevalence of urinary tract infection in febrile children less than 5 years of age and to assess the validity of routine microscopic urine analysis and urine culture in the diagnosis of Urinary Tract infection.
Material and Methods
The present study was conducted in the department of paediatrics, Dr. V.R.K. Women’s Medical College, Teaching Hospital & Research Centre, Aziznagar.
Selection of patients
Febrile children less than 5years attending the out patient department or admitted in the hospital over a period of 13 months were included in the study.
Methods of study
370 children were included in the study, data related to age, sex, nutritional status, socioeconomic status and predisposing risk factors like urethral instrumentation, bowel habits etc., were noted. A complete history related to the onset, duration of fever and associated symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, urinary disturbances, other system involvement was obtained.
A thorough physical examination with relevant investigations was carried out in all patients. Routine blood counts, urine analysis was done and those showing pus cells > 5 per HPF in centrifuged urine sample were taken as study group and urine culture sensitivity was done in them, USG examination were done, in culture positive cases, one case DTPA scan was done, the detailed data was entered in the proforma.
Collection of urine sample
From all 370 cases a sample of urine was collected. In children under 2 years of age urine was collected by a bag and in others midstream sample was collected.
Collection of bag sample
In children below 2 years of age the genitalia was cleaned with soap and water and person collecting sample washed hands before touching the bottle or bag for collecting urine sample. In males prepuce retracted if possible, in females below 2 years labia was washed. Urine was collected in bag, around 10 ml of urine was transferred into sterile bottle and sent for culture and sensitivity .In children above 2years midstream sample was collected.
Method of collection of mid stream sample
After taking the above precautions child was allowed to pass urine, mid stream sample was collected in sterile bottle and was sent for culture and sensitivity.
Urine analysis
The fresh urine sample obtained from the above techniques were subjected for urinalysis and culture and sensitivity. The urine specimens were centrifuged in a standard manner, 10ml of urine was span at the rate of 2500 rpm for 20-30mintes, supernatant decanted off and sediment re-suspended in the remaining 0.2ml.The urine was examined under miscroscope for Hematuria, and Leukocyturia. In the present study more than 5 pus cells/HPF in a centrifuged urine sample was taken as significant pyuria and culture and sensitivity was performed in that patient / case.
Urine culture
The clean catch mid stream urine was inoculated into blood and mac conkey agar plates with a 0.01ml calibrated loop. All plates were incubated at 35-370C for 24 hrs. under aerobic condition to obtain accurate colony count. On culture of mid stream sample of urine, a colony count of more than 105 /ml organisms of a single species was considered significant.
Samples showing insignificant growth, mixed growth of two or more pathogens or growth of non-pathogens were not considered as culture positive. The following definitions were employed in the present study.
Results
Table 1
Age and Sex distribution of 370 cases
|
Age |
Sex |
Total |
|
|
Male Female |
|||
|
< 1 year |
40(24.24) |
60(29.26) |
100(27.02) |
|
1 – 2 years |
75(45.45) |
65(31.70) |
140(37.83) |
|
> 2 years |
50(30.30) |
80(39.02) |
130(35.13) |
|
Total |
165 |
205 |
370 |
In the present study of 370 cases 165 (44.5%) were males, 205 (55.4%) were females, 100 cases were < 1year (27.02%). Maximum cases of urinary tract infection were in the age < 2 years (64.8%). Minimum age in the study group was 2 months and maximum age in the study group was 60 months.Table 1
Table 2
Age and sex distribution of subjects with urine showing > 5 pus cells/HPF
In the present study 48 children (12.9%) showed Pyuria in centrifuged urine sample of which 26 (54.16%) were males and 22(45.8%) were females. Majority were < 2 years, 58%.Table 2
Table 3
Distribution of socio economic status
|
SES |
Sex |
Total |
|
|
Male |
Female |
||
|
Class II |
14(53.85) |
12(54.55) |
26(54.17) |
|
Class III |
12(46.15) |
10(45.45) |
22(45.83) |
|
Total |
26(100.00) |
22(100.00) |
48(100.0) |
Majority of children belong to class II (54%) and class III (45.8%) according to modified Prasad’s classification of Socio Economic Status.Table 3
Table 4
Distribution of subjects based on Nutritional status (IAP-Classification) in Pyuric children showing > 5 pus cells/HPF.
Nutritional status of majority of children was normal (54%), 20% were in grade I PEM, 10% were in grade II PEM, 4% belong to class III and class IV.Table 4
Table 5
Distribution of pus cells in urine
|
No of Pus cells in urine |
Sex |
Total |
|
|
Male Female |
|||
|
> 5 |
18(69.23) |
16(72.72) |
34(70.83) |
|
> 10 |
3(11.54) |
5(21.73) |
8(16.67) |
|
Numerous |
5(19.23) |
1(4.55) |
6(12.50) |
|
Total |
26(100.00) |
22(100.00) |
48(100.0) |
In our study among 370 children 48 (12.97%) showed significant pus cells in urine, 70% of children with pyuria showed more than 5 pus cells / HPF and 16% showed more than 10 pus cells/ HPF. 12% showed numerous of pus cells.Table 5
Table 6
Distribution of urine culture
In our study growth > 105 CFU/ml of single organism was considered significant growth. 73% of Pyuric children showed no significant growth on Urine culture. Among positive cultures 69.33% showed E.coli, 7.6% showed acinobacter, citrobacter, pseudomonas, and serratia species.Table 6
Table 7
Abdominal ultra sound scan findings in culture positive children
Though children with known congenital genito urinary anamolies were excluded in the study, USG done in all cases who were culture positive revealed renal involvement / anomaly in 6 cases (38.46%). All the children were males.Table 7
Table 8
Final diagnosis in all pyuric children
Discussion
Urinary tract infections are quite common but potentially serious infections of childhood. They cause acute morbidity as well as long term sequeale including hypertention and impaired renal function. Accurate diagnosis of urinary tract infection is important to facilitate appropriate management of acute illness, and to ensure appropriate evaluation and followup. Equally important is accurately ruling out a urinarytract infection to avoid unnecessary cost and potentially harmful treatment and evaluation.
The present study was a prospective study conducted in department of pediatrics Dr. V.R.K. Women’s Medical College, Teaching Hospital & Research Centre, over a period of 13 months between June 2019 to June 2020 to determine the magnitude of urinary tract infection in febrile children between 1month to 5 years and also to assess the validity of routine microscopic urine analysis and culture in the diagnosis of urinary tract infection.
A total of 370 febrile children were included in the study, out of 370 patients in study 165 were males and 205 were females with M:F ratio 1:1.2 and majority of them i.e.64.8%were <2 years.
In our study out of 370 children 48 children showed significant pyuria (12.9%) of pyuric cases 26% showed significant bacterial growth making an overall prevalence of 3.5%. Among culture positive UTI’S 76% were <2 years of age with a overall prevalence of 4.1% in children <2 years and 7% in children <1 year.
Prevalence of febrile UTI in infants in our study is almost similar to study by Dharni Dharaka et al9(1993)who reported a prevalence of 5.4% in febrile infants, Hoberman et al10 (1993)who reported prevalence of 5.3% in infants.
Overall prevalence of UTI in febrile children in our study was 3.5% and 7% in children <5years and infants respectively in contrast to study conducted by
R.K.Kaushal et al11(2003)who reported higher prevalence of 8.4% and 12.3% in children <5years and infants respectively.
Overall prevalence of febrile UTI in infants in our study (7%) was higher compared to report by Shaw K.N et al 1(1998)from USA who reported prevalence of 3.3% in febrile infants.
In our study prevalence of UTI in <2 years age group was 4.1% which was similar to study by Roberts k.et al 12(1983)who coated prevalence of 4.1%.P.R Srivasths et al 13(1996) reported a prevalence of 2.48% in children <2 years which was lowest reported from a developing country.
M:F ratio of culture positive cases in the age group of <2 years was 1:1 and in children >2 years there was male preponderance although children with known renal anamolies were excluded in our study. We detected renal anamolies for the first time (6 out of 13) by USG examination this explaining the male preponderance in our study.
Among culture positive cases 69% grew E.coli and 7% each of pseudomonas, citrobacter, acinobacter, serratia species, which correlates with other studies. Bryan C.S et al 14(1984) reported E.coli as the common urinary pathogen in 85%of cases. According to Aravind Bagga et al15 (2000)90% of first symptomatic urinary tract infection and 70% reccurence infections were due to E.coli. Hoberman et al 10(1993) reported as E.coli as the most common bacterium isolated in his study.
Because of economical constraints urine cultures were done only in children who showed significant pyuria which revealed positive culture in 26%. Hence validity of urine examination could not be accurately ascertained.
In our study 40% of children who showed numerous pus cells were culture positive and 44%who showed >10% were culture positive and 2.5% of children showing >5pus cells were culture positive. Hence the presence of pyuria of >5leukocytes/HPF in a centrifuged sample is a significant indicator of UTI.
Conclusion
Clinicians should be aware of the possibility that febrile children may have urinary tract infection and should consider obtaining a urine culture specimen as part of their diagnostic evaluation.
The presence of another potential source of fever such as upper respiratory tract infection or otitis media is not reliable in excluding urinary tract infection.
Several studies in developed countries have shown a low prevalence (1.7 – 4.1%) of urinary tract infection in febrile children. 9, 10
Present study reveals similar overall prevalence of UTI (3.5%) in febrile children 1 month to 5 years and 4.1% in children <2 years and 7% in children <1 year of age.
The study would have been more conclusive if urine cultures were done in all febrile children screened, but economical constraints limited us to do urine culture only in those children showing significant pyuria of > 5 pus cells/ HPF of centrifuged urine sample and we found that 26% of febrile pyuric children were culture positive hence the validity of study cannot be asscessed.
Prevalence of culture positivity was 44% in those who showed >10 pus cells/HPF in centrifuged sample of urine compared to 2.5% in those who showed > 5 pus cells/HPF.
Hence we conclude that pyuria of > 5 pus cells /HPF in centrifuged sample should be considered as significant pyuria and further evaluation should be done promptly to initiate treatment and to prevent morbidity and long term sequele.
Acknowledgment
The author is thankful to Department of Pediatrics, Dr. V.R.K. Women’s Medical College, and Teaching Hospital & Research Centre. Aziznagar, R.R.District for providing all the facilities to carry out this work.
Article DOI
