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Parental reporting of smelly urine and urinary tract infection
S Struthers1, J Scanlon, K Parker
1Department of Paediatrics, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Romsey Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO22 5DG, UK. simonstruthers@hotmail.com
Insights
Parental reports of smelly urine in young children are not a reliable indicator for diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study found no significant association between a child's urine odor and a UTI diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Parental observations of unusual urine odor in young children are common.
- Limited evidence supports the diagnostic relevance of perceived urinary odor for urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between parental reports of smelly urine and the diagnosis of UTI in children under six years old.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire assessed parental perception of urine odor in children undergoing urine collection.
- Urine microscopy and culture results were correlated with parental reports of urine smell.
Main Results:
- 52% of parents reported unusual urine odor, but only 6.4% of children had a confirmed UTI.
- No statistically significant link was found between reported urine odor and UTI diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Parental perception of urine odor is not a useful diagnostic tool for identifying UTIs in young children.
- Clinical assessment for UTIs should not rely on subjective reports of urine smell.
Background:
Parents often report that young children have "smelly urine" or a particular urinary odour. There is little evidence that these observations are relevant to the diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Aims:
To determine whether parental reporting of smelly urine is of any relevance to the diagnosis of UTI in children less than 6 years of age.
Methods:
Parents whose children were having urine collected as part of their admission to a large district hospital were given a simple questionnaire to complete regarding the current smell of their child's urine. Parents were asked whether their child's urine smelled different from usual or had a particular smell. Microscopy and culture results of the child's urine were compared to their parent's questionnaire answers to see if there was a association between parental reporting of a different or particular urine smell and a diagnosis of UTI.
Results:
One hundred and ten questionnaires and urine samples were obtained. Fifty two per cent of parents thought that their child's urine smelled different from usual or had a particular smell. Only 6.4% of children were diagnosed as having a UTI. There was no statistically significant association between parental reporting of abnormal urine smell and diagnosis of UTI.
Conclusion:
In determining whether a young child has a UTI, asking parents about urine smell is unlikely to be of benefit.