[Screening for kidney diseases in childhood (author's transl)]

In the light of present knowledge, the routine screening for renal disease in the pediatric age group is not generally indicated. Asymptomatic proteinuria and microscopic hematuria are common but generally harmless, and only in exceptional cases do they indicate a latent progressive renal disease that could be influenced by early treatment. The finding of asymptomatic bacteriuria in the school age is associated with vesicoureteral reflux and pyelonephritic scars in one-third of the cases. Medical treatment of all cases with bacteriuria in this age group does not, however, seem justified. Screening for urinary tract infection would thus appear sensible only during the first years of life. However, with the presently available methods they are technically difficult and expensive. Examination of the urine is, of course, indicated in all children with suspected infectious disease or failure to thrive, and repeated studies are often advisable.