Incidence of Acute Pyelonephritis in Hospitalized Children under 5 Years Old with Positive Urine Culture

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary tract infection is a major cause of child morbidity. The diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis is important to decide the treatment. Methods: Retrospective observational study. We collected information of urinalysis, urine Gram and urine culture of hospitalized children between 3 months and 5 years old, with suspected urinary tract infection between January 2008 and December 2010. In patients with positive urine culture, the results of renal scintigraphy (Gamma scan) were evaluated to estimate the incidence of acute pyelonephritis. Results: We identified 1,463 medical records. Urinary culture was obtained in 237 patients, of whom 54.4% were positive. Renal scintigraphy was obtained in 93 of these patients and 59.1% were positive. Conclusions: The incidence of acute pyelonephritis in patients with confirmed urinary tract infection was 59.1%.