Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection and its Related Factors in a Sample of School Age Children from Baghdad/ Iraq

Background: Urinary tract infection is considered an important risk factor for the development of renal insufficiency or end- stage renal disease. Children have a wide variety of clinical presentation, ranging from the asymptomatic presence of bacteria in the urine to potentially life- threatening infection of the kidney. Objective: To measure the prevalence of urinary tract infection, bacteriuria whether symptomatic or not, the type of bacteria detected in urine, and to identify the factors that may be associated with urinary tract infection in primary in school going children. Methodology: A cross-sectional study with analytic elements was conducted within five months in pediatric department of Al Imamain Kadhimain Medical city. A consecutive sample of 300 children of school age (6-12) years old included, data were collected by direct interview with children and/or their caregiver using a questionnaire with measurement of weight and height, general urine examination and urine culture were done. Results: The prevalence of children having positive urine culture was 14.7% of which 1.6% was of children without any symptoms. E.coli being the most frequent detected organisms 65.9%, with significant predisposing behaviors including: intake of carbonated beverages, holding back urine, not washing hands after toilet and using tight clothing. Conclusion: The prevalence of urinary tract infection among school age children in is relatively low and it is significantly related to school dropout, low educational level of parents, rural residence, and low family income.