PREVALENCE OF SONOGRAPHIC FINDINGS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH URINARY TRACT INFECTION IN LAHORE WITH POSITIVE LABORATORY FINDINGS

Abstract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is among the most prevalent bacterial infections in children and, when diagnosis and treatment are delayed, may progress to kidney complications. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of sonographic findings in pediatric patients presenting with UTI supported by positive laboratory findings. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over three months at Suraiya Azeem Hospital and Children Hospital, Lahore. Using convenient sampling, 87 symptomatic pediatric patients under twelve years of age with laboratory-confirmed UTI were enrolled; presenting features included fever, dysuria, vomiting, increased urinary frequency, lethargy, poor feeding, and flank pain. Patients older than twelve years and those with trauma, unconfirmed UTI, or a history of renal or urinary tract surgery were excluded. Renal and bladder ultrasound was performed and correlated with laboratory-confirmed UTI. The majority of participants were girls (69.0%), and the most affected age group was one month to two years (64.4%). Normal renal ultrasound findings were observed in 81.6% of patients, whereas 18.4% showed abnormalities, with mild hydronephrosis the most common abnormal finding. Bladder wall thickening was seen in 26.4% of children. The associations between age group and renal or bladder findings were statistically non-significant. These results indicate that pediatric UTI does not always manifest with ultrasound abnormalities; nevertheless, sonography remains a valuable, non-invasive, radiation-free first-line tool for identifying structural anomalies that could otherwise go undetected and for guiding closer follow-up