Risk factors in children with recurrent urinary tract infection among patients attending Al Zahra Teaching Hospital in Iraq

Abstract Urinary tract infections (UTI) are considered one of the most common infections that occur in the pediatric age group, leading to very serious morbidity and mortality. The detection of risk factors for urinary tract infection helps in the management and prevention of the recurrence of the infection. This study attempts to review current information on UTIs and determine different risk factors in association. To study the risk factors that are associated with recurrent urinary tract infection in different age groups of childhood among children attending AL Zahra Teaching Hospital. A case-control study was conducted in AL Zahra Teaching Hospital during the period from October 1 st , 2021, to July 30 th , 2022. It included 76 children with highly suggestive histories, their examination, and results of the investigations (e.g. urine cultures), as well as 150 healthy children who were taken as controls. The controls were without a history of recurrent UTI and were similar to patients in age, sex and other risk factors that were mentioned in the study. A completed questionnaire was given to each child’s mother, and then the results were analyzed. The study showed that non educated mothers OR (3.2), vesicouetrerall reflux OR (3), uncircumcised male OR (2.94), female gender OR (2.7), age groups below than 6 years OR (2.4), low social class OR (2.1) and residency in rural area (OR 2.5) contributed to UTI issues. When compared to control groups, non educated mothers and vesicoureteral reflux were highly significant risk factors, and other risk factors such as female gender, uncircumcised male, age less than 6 years, low social class and rural area were significant for febrile recurrent urinary tract infection in children.