Urinary Tract Infection in Children and Adolescents, Recent Data on Etiology, Diagnostics and Therapy
Abstract
Urinary tract infections (UTI) are the second most common cause of morbidity in children, only respiratory infection reveals a higher rate. Infants and toddlers are at highest risk of permanent damage of the renal parenchyma, particularly in inadequately treated urinary infection.
Primary care pediatricians should take in account the possibility of acute pyelonephritis, firstly in children with high fever without symptoms of respiratory problems. In cases of suspected acute pyelonephritis, the child should be admitted to a hospital for intensive antibacterial therapy, during the first 2-3 days application i.v.
This review summarizes the new insights, particularly concerning the modern investigative methods and their impact on the treatment. Approach to examinations of children with UTI has been changed during the last decades showing some news reflecting the impact of "evidence based medicine" studies and progress of the diagnostic techniques.
Besides the classical treatment with antibiotics and chemotherapeutics the authors assess critically also the use of cranberries, E. coli extracts and use of probiotics.