Abstract

The high frequency of recurrent urinary tract infection in children, makes it important for the renal damage to be detected earlier. The aim of study was to find out the efficacy of the imaging methods in diagnosing renal scarring in children with recurrent urinary tract infection. This study comprises a total of 66 patients (132 kidneys) with recurrent urinary tract infection, aged 2 to 12 years ( mean age 7.4±2.6 years) of whom 83% (55) is female and 17% (11) is male. 37.9% of the overall patients had had 3 or less, 62.1% had had 4 or more urinary tract infection episodes. The study population was evaluated for physical examination, urine analysis, urine culture, complete blood count, sedimentation rate, CRP, blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values. The radiological investigation included ultrasonography, intravenous urographyıvu, voiding cystouretrography and TcWm dimercaptosuccinicacid (DMSA) scan. Statistical analysis was made by x2 and student-t test methods. Scar formation was detected in 26 patients (39.4%) and 32 kidneys (24.2%) by the DMSA scan technique, whereas in 16 patients (24.2 %) and 23 kidneys (17.4 %) by the IVU, in 6 patients (9.1 %) and 8 kidneys (6.1 %) by the ultrasonography. We conclude that DMSA scan is more sensitive (88 % sensitivity), and more spesific (100 % specifity) at detecting renal defects than ultrasonography and intravenous urography in children with recurrent urinary tract infection.