The clinical diagnosis and management of urinary tract infections in children and adolescents

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most common and serious bacterial infections encountered by paediatricians and primary care physicians. Although the diagnosis and management of UTI appear simplistic, they remain among the most contentious issues in paediatrics. In part, UTI controversies stem from the absence of classic clinical symptoms, inappropriate urine specimen collection, modified urinary tract imaging recommendations, and diverse treatment and prevention strategies. Recently published guidelines and large clinical trials have attempted to clarify UTI diagnostic and management strategies. In this manuscript, we review the diagnosis and management of acute and recurrent UTI in the paediatric and adolescent populations.

Keywords: Urinary tract infection; cystitis; diagnosis; management; nephrology; paediatrics; pyelonephritis; urology.