Urinary Tract Infections Among Children Admitted With Gastroenteritis in Paediatric Ward Muhimbili Medical Centre, Dar Es Salaam

Abstract

During the study period of six months; that is from March 1981 to August 1981 a total number of 900 children with and without gastroenteritis were screened for urinary tract infection. Age ranged from one month to seven years, majority of the patients (50%) were in the age group of six months to one year. In group A (Children with gastroenteritis) 500 children: 293 (58.6%) males and 207 (41.7%) females were screened. 41 (8.2%) were found positive for urinary tract infection and out of these; 24 (58.5%) were females and 17 (41.5%) were males. In the control group B; 400 children: 241 (6003%) males and 159 (3907%) females were screened. 30 (7.5%) children were positive for urinary tract infection. Out of the 30 positives, 19 (6303%) were females and 11 (3607%) were males. There was no statistical difference between the two groups (X2 ═ 0.1471. P = 0.5). In both groups there was significant bacteriuria in female below the age of one year. Were in both both groups non-specific. They varied from

gastroenteritis, fever, protein energy malnutrition, anaemia including sickle cell disease, bronchopneumonia and post measles complications. There was significant correlation between pyuria, bacterial urinedcounts, and urinary tract infection confirmed by cultural methods. Bacterial urine counts of five or more bacteria per high power field accounted for 90% and 91.3% in both groups A and B respectively in children positive for urinary tract infection.