Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2025
Intrarenal Injection of Escherichia coli in a Rat Model of Pyelonephritis
Published on: July 18, 2017
Renal scarring in children with febrile urinary tract infection
Arife Uslu Gökceoğlu1, Nesrin Taş2
1Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Antalya, Türkiye.
Insights
16.9% of children with febrile urinary tract infections (fUTI) showed renal scarring. Recurrent infections and abnormal bladder findings on renal bladder ultrasonography (RBUS) correlated with higher scarring rates.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Diagnostic Imaging
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Febrile urinary tract infections (fUTI) are common in children.
- Renal scarring can result from fUTI, potentially leading to long-term complications.
- Early identification of risk factors for renal scarring is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the characteristics of children diagnosed with fUTI.
- To analyze the findings from renal bladder ultrasonography (RBUS) and late dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scans in these children.
- To identify associations between patient characteristics, imaging results, and renal scarring.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of RBUS and DMSA reports for children with fUTI.
- Data collected included age, gender, number of fUTI episodes, constipation, and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare rates of renal scarring based on various factors.
Main Results:
- 160 children with fUTI were included; 86.3% were girls and 73.1% were over 60 months old.
- Renal scarring was present in 16.9% of children, with similar rates across age and gender groups.
- Recurrent fUTI (26.4%) and abnormal RBUS findings (trabeculation, thick bladder wall) were associated with higher rates of renal scarring (p=0.04 and p=0.03, respectively).
Conclusions:
- 16.9% of children with fUTI exhibited renal scarring on DMSA scans.
- Renal scarring rates were consistent across different age and gender demographics.
- Children experiencing recurrent fUTI or presenting with abnormal bladder wall characteristics on RBUS showed a significantly higher likelihood of renal scarring.
Objective:
The authors aim to evaluate characteristics of children with fUTI and results of renal bladder ultrasonography (RBUS) and late dimercaptosuccinicacid (DMSA) scan.
Methods:
This study is designed as retrospective analysis of RBUS and DMSA reports of children with fUTI. Age, gender, number of fUTI, presence of constipation and vesicouretheral reflux (VUR) were recorded.
Results:
The study included 160 children with fUTI with a median age of 7 years (6 months 18 years old). The majority of children in this study were girls (86.3 %), older than 60 months (73.1 %) and had one episode of fUTI. The recurrence rates of UTI were similar in both girls and boys. The total rate of constipation was 21.9 %. The rate of renal scarring on DMSA was 16.9 %. The rates of renal scarring were similar at three age groups and both genders. The rate of renal scarring was higher in children with recurrent UTI compared to those with one episode of fUTI (26.4 % and 12.5 %, respectively; p = 0.04). The rate of constipation in children with renal scarring and normal DMSA was similar (p = 0.07). The rate of trabeculation and thick bladder wall was higher in children with renal scarring at DMSA than children with no renal scarring (p = 0.03).
Conclusion:
The present study demonstrated that 16.9 % of children with fUTI had renal scarring. The rates of renal scarring were similar in both gender and age groups. Children with recurrent UTI and abnormal bladder results at RBUS had higher rates of renal scarring.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Disorders of the Urinary System
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common urinary system disorders. They are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and can spread to the bladder resulting in cystitis. Pyelonephritis is the result of a UTI that has ascended to the level of the...
01:20Renal Corpuscle
Glomerulus: Structure and Function
The glomerulus is a tiny, intricate network of capillaries located at the beginning of the nephron. It's enveloped by the Bowman's capsule and receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole, which divides into numerous...
01:45Kidney Structure