Epidemiology of urinary tract infections and vesico-ureteral reflux in children

The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence of symptomatic urinary tract infection (U.T.I.) and malformations, such as vesico-ureteral reflux (V.U.R.) in the Trieste area. Data were collected in the framework of a survey based on the application of a protocol on urinary infections between 1979 and 1983. The U.T.I. incidence was found to be 1.38‰ of the 0-14-year-old residents, with a higher frequency in females (2.36‰) than in males (0.46‰). As regards V.U.R., the incidence in the population studied turned out to be 0.25‰, with a females/males ratio of 4:1. Striking differences in incidence data were observed according to the age of U.T.I. and V.U.R. diagnosis and to the infection level (cystitis or pyelonephritis). The incidence of renal scarring resulted to be exremely low, which can be ascribed to the early diagnosis in our cases.