Type of nappy and nursing habits in acquiring acute urinary tract infection

The role of the nappy and nursing habits as possible risk factors of urinary tract infection (UTI) were analysed in a prospective case-control study. Cases entered hospital due to their first UTI attack. Children hospitalized for some other reason, mainly upper respiratory infections or elective surgery, served as controls matched for age and sex. Cases and their controls (208 girls and 184 boys) used nappies day and night. The odds ratios for risk of contracting UTI according to different nappy types used prior to the first UTI diagnosis were 0.95 for all-in-one (superabsorbent) nappies (95% CI 0.62-1.46), 1.04 (0.69-1.57) for standard disposable nappies and 1.00 (0.46-2.16) for washable cotton nappies. The type and number of nappies used daily as well as the number of defecations per day were similar in UTI patients and the controls. There were no significant differences in the frequency of buttock washes nor in the daily time spent without nappy. The use of cotton nappies practically finished during the study. The type of nappy used or other nursing habits with the baby appeared to be insignificant risk factors for UTI during nappy age. The use of modern nappies has become so thoroughly commonplace that the true impact of nappy type on any condition during infancy is difficult or even impossible to evaluate in a case-control setting.