Global trends in childhood urinary tract infections, 1990–2021: results from the GBD study

From 1990 to 2021, the global incidence rate of childhood UTIs exhibited a downward trend. However, this trend reversed over the past decade, with a marked increase in incidence rates. Significant disparities in incidence rates were observed across population groups globally, stratified by sex, age, geographical location, and socioeconomic status. The incidence rate of UTIs is higher among children in socioeconomically disadvantaged and tropical regions. A representative example is the sustained increase in UTIs incidence among children in South Asia. Conversely, incidence rates were higher in girls, while mortality and DALYs were significantly elevated in boys. To optimize resource allocation and ensure essential treatment reaches those in need, governments and health organizations must tailor interventions based on regional and population-specific burdens. These findings underscore the necessity of developing effective, tailored prevention and treatment strategies.