A retrospective evaluation of patients with genitourinary system symptoms in a pediatric emergency department

Aims: Pediatric genitourinary system symptoms are one of the principal causes of admission to pediatric emergency departments (PEDs). This study describes the characteristics and management of genitourinary system symptoms in patients admitted to our PED. Methods: This retrospective, observational study was conducted in a PED at Samsun University between January 2019 and October 2023. Children younger than 18 who presented to our PED and were diagnosed with urogenital pathologies were included. The patients’ sex, age, arrival time, presenting complaint, diagnosis, length of stay in the emergency room, emergency surgery requirements, and length of hospital stay were extracted from the electronic medical records. Results: A total of 1265 children with a mean age of 8.2±5.17 years, 855 (67.6%) boys and 410 (32.4%) girls, presented to the PED during the study period. The mean duration of symptoms was 10.95±5.01 hours. The most common presentation symptoms were dysuria (40.9%), scrotal pain/swollen/erythema (32.5%), and fever (11.8%), while the most common diseases were urinary tract infection (56.5%), epididymitis/epididymo-orchitis (24.8%), and testicular torsion (4%). The mean time from diagnosis to treatment was 2.9±0.82 hours, and the mean time elapsing in the waiting room was 3.4±1.01 hours. Two hundred ninety-five (23.3%) patients were hospitalized, while emergency surgical procedures were performed on 82 (6.5%). Conclusion: The majority of children presenting due to genitourinary system symptoms can be safely treated in the emergency room. Severe urological emergencies resulting in morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients are rare.