Frequency and pattern of urinary complaints among pregnant women

To determine the frequency pattern of presentation and causative agents of lower urinary tract symptoms in pregnant females.

Descriptive study.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Fatima Memorial Hospital, Lahore, from January 2003 to May 2003.

One thousand consecutive pregnant women, attending the antenatal clinics of Fatima Memorial Hospital, were included in the study. Women with renal pathology, postrenal transplant and those on immunosuppressive agents were excluded. All women underwent complete examination of urine. Those who had one or more urinary complaints had culture and sensitivity test of urine. Other variables studied were the symptomatology.

Out of one thousand pregnant women, 426 (42.6%) complained of one or more urinary symptoms. Diurnal and nocturnal frequency was the most commonly encountered symptom (87.32%), followed by irritative symptoms and voiding difficulties. Complete urine examination of symptomatic patients revealed<5 pus cells /HPF (high power field) in 322 cases and 6-20 pus cell/HPF in the remaining 104 cases. The urine culture of the symptomatic patients (426 cases) showed growth in only 37 cases (8.69%). Escherichia (E.) coli was the commonest organism (89.1%) followed by Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (8.1%) and candidiasis (2.7%).

Lower urinary tract symptoms are frequently present in pregnant women, which can be due to both pregnancy-induced changes on urinary system as well as urinary infection. It is important to differentiate between the two because former requires only reassurance whereas the latter needs antibiotic treatment.