Work

Abnormal Ultrasound Findings After a Urinary Tract Infection in Children

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: AIM: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of urinary tract abnormalities detected in the ultrasound screening of children after a urinary tract infection episode, regardless of their age. METHODS: This cohort study included children aged 0-16 years who underwent urinary tract ultrasound screening after a urinary tract infection between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2015 in a paediatric university hospital in Finland. We excluded children with previously diagnosed pathologies of the urinary tract. RESULTS: A total of 2050 children were included in this study. Among these, 116 (5.7%, 95% confidence interval 4.7%-6.7%) children had an abnormal ultrasound. In children with pyelonephritis, 70% of the abnormal ultrasounds were found in children younger than 2 years old. Age younger than 2 years was not associated with an increased risk of abnormality (odds ratio: 0.99, 95% confidence interval 0.65-1.52). Boys and children with non-Escherichia coli urinary tract infection or recurrent urinary tract infection were associated with a higher risk of having a urinary tract abnormality. CONCLUSION: Limiting ultrasound screening after pyelonephritis to children under 2 years of age, as recommended in many current treatment guidelines, may miss a significant proportion (30%) of children with urinary tract abnormalities.

Source: Acta Paediatrica

DOI: 10.1111/apa.70152