A Comparative Study of Urine Dipstick Testing with Urine Culture in Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection (0–5 Years): A Cross-sectional Observational Study

Urinary tract infections are commonly overlooked in infants and young children, since urinary signs are subtle and often nonspecific.Rapid evaluation and treatment are important for preventing acute and long-term complications associated with UTI. IntroductIonChildhood urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common bacterial infections, affecting 8.4% of girls and 1.7% of boys by the time they reach 7 years of age. 1 The diagnosis of a UTI requires two key components: (1) clinical symptoms of an infection and (2) laboratory evidence of a single uropathogen growing at a significant colony count.The symptoms of UTI are often not clearly defined, making the diagnosis difficult in infants.Early detection and treatment of UTIs are crucial, as delays can result in urosepsis or kidney scarring, which may lead to further complications, including hypertension.Febrile UTIs have been linked to renal scarring, with each episode of UTI increasing the risk by 2.8%. 2 UTIs are also considered as a known risk factor for acute kidney injury.A UTI may be associated with congenital renal anomalies or severe vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), both of which are recognized risk factors for UTIs.An underlying congenital anomaly of the urinary tract may be found in nearly 20-30% of children experiencing their first febrile UTI.