Screening of febrile children on hospital admission for urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most often missed diagnosis in children in the tropics. This is because of the varied and similar presentation of UTI to other common illnesses. A total of 154 patients with various presumptive clinical diagnosis at admission were screened for the presence of UTI. Only 33 (21.4%) patients had proven UTI. Majority of these patients (20 or 60.6%) were aged < 5 years. The findings of UTI was more amongst patients with presumptive clinical diagnosis of bacteria infections (like sepsis, typhoid septicaemia, bronchopneumonia etc.), and severe malaria. The commonest organisms isolated were Escherichia coli 12(36,4%) and Klebsiella 12(36.4%). There was increased sensitivity of these organisms to both ceftazidime and the quinolones. It is concluded that there should be high index of suspicion of UTI in patients with bacteria infection (Localised or generalized) and severe malaria particularly those with black water fever.