Childhood urinary conditions

Steven J McTaggart1

  • 1Queensland Child and Adolescent Renal Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland. steven_mctaggart@health.qld.gov.au

Australian Family Physician
|November 22, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Common urinary abnormalities in children require careful assessment. A thorough history, exam, and urinalysis help manage conditions and reassure families about minor findings.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Clinical Pediatrics

Background:

  • Urinary abnormalities are frequently identified in children.
  • These can stem from diverse underlying conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide general practitioners with an overview of common childhood urinary abnormalities.
  • To guide the investigation and management of these conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive history taking.
  • Physical examination.
  • Urinalysis interpretation.

Main Results:

  • Dipstick urinalysis can screen for, but not diagnose, urinary tract infections.
  • Microscopic hematuria is rarely indicative of serious kidney disease.
  • Non-postural proteinuria is a significant finding requiring specialist evaluation.

Conclusions:

  • Initial assessment should prevent overlooking serious conditions and unnecessary tests.
  • Asymptomatic children with minor urinary abnormalities have a low risk of significant kidney disease.
  • Reassurance is often appropriate for families of children with minor findings.
Abstract

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