Abstract
Background and aims: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are relatively common infections in children. Findings on nuclear renal scans suggest that the vast majority of infants and young children with febrile UTIs have acute pyelonephritis (APN, upper-tract infection). Early recognition and prompt treatment of UTIs is important to prevent late sequelae, such as renal scarring, hypertension, and renal failure. When assessing the pediatric patient with UTI, one may encounter few specific symptoms. Febrile UTI should be assumed to be pyelonephritis and treated accordingly. The aims of this study are determine prevalence of APN in our department, characterize etiologic agents of APN and establish correlation between clinical and analytical parameters.
Materials and Methods: We studied 72 patients with acute pyelonephritis (APN) aged 1 month to 5 years, admitted between January 2004 and December 2008. Retrospective analysis of clinical processes, including analytical examination, renal ultrasonography, DMSA Scan and cistouretography was made.
Results: 72 patients aged between 1 month and 5 years. Mean age was 11 months.
Escherichia coli
Elevated C-reactive protein, leucocytosis and neutrophilia were associated with renal damage. Vesicoureteral reflux was present in 18 % cases.
Renal damage was present in 16% of patients and associated with age and recurrences of acute pyelonephritis.
Conclusion: 16% of the patients with acute pyelonephritis had renal damage. There was reflux without renal damage and renal damage without reflux. Renal damage increased with age and recurrences of acute pyelonephritis.
was the most frequently isolated agent (89.9%), followed by Proteus mirabilis (3.6%) and Klebsiella oxytoca.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leitão, A., Paupério, S., Dinis, J. et al. 980 Etiology of Acute Pyelonephritis and Correlation of Clinical and Analytical Parameters. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 488 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00980
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-00980