[Ultrasonography in urinary tract infection in infancy]
Related Experiment Videos
M Riccabona1, E Ring, P Mileder
1Universitäts-Kinderklinik Graz.
Insights
Sonography effectively detects kidney involvement in infant urinary tract infections (UTI) with high accuracy. However, it does not replace the need for radiological imaging like voiding cystoureterography to fully assess the condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common in infants.
- Renal parenchymal involvement can lead to long-term complications.
- Accurate diagnosis of upper UTI is crucial for appropriate management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic value of sonography for detecting renal parenchymal involvement in infants with UTI.
- To compare sonographic findings with radiological investigations (MCU) for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 77 infants diagnosed with UTI.
- Sonography performed during UTI and one month later.
- Classification of UTI as upper or lower based on clinical and laboratory findings.
- Voiding cystoureterography (MCU) performed in all infants.
Main Results:
- Sonography demonstrated high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (97%) for detecting renal involvement.
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) incidence was significantly higher in infants with repeated abnormal sonographic findings.
- Sonography alone could not detect VUR in all infants with radiologically confirmed reflux.
Conclusions:
- Sonography is a valuable tool for assessing renal involvement in infants with UTI.
- Sonography complements, but does not replace, radiological workup such as MCU for VUR detection.
Abstract:
In a prospective study 77 infants (35 boys) with a mean age of 5.23 months were studied to determine the value of sonography for detection of renal parenchymal involvement in urinary tract infection (UTI). Sonography was performed during UTI and about one month later. UTI was classified as upper and lower UTI according to the clinical and laboratory findings; radiological investigations (voiding cystoureterography = MCU) were performed in all infants. 40 infants were classified to have upper UTI. There was a high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (97%) for detection of renal involvement by sonography. Incidence for vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was significantly higher in infants with repeated pathological findings on sonography. In contrast, no VUR was detected on MCU in all 12 infants with normal findings in both sonographic examinations. Yet, sonography without catheterization could not detect VUR in all infants with radiologically confirmed reflux. Our results show, that sonography is of definite value in infants with UTI, but cannot replace radiological work up.