COMPARISON OF STANDARD URINE ANALYSIS WITH URINE DIP STICK TO DETECT URINARY TRACT INFECTION IN CHILDREN

AIM: To Provide a prospective comparison of the rapid screening tests abilities (Standard urinalysis, Urine dipstick test) to detect UTI in children with suspected UTI, admitted to a tertiary care hospital.MATERIALS & METHODS: All children ≤12 yrs. of age, admitted with suspected urinary tract infection were included in the study.It is a Prospective, comparative study with a sample size of 500 cases.RESULTS: The epidemiological indices -sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of the rapid screening tests (The standard urine analysis, enhanced urine analysis, urine dipstick test) were calculated individually for bacteriuria, pyuria, both and compared with a positive urine culture as the validating standard.CONCLUSIONS: All the rapid screening tests had low sensitivity (<70%) with similar positive predictive values.So no rapid test can screen accurately for UTI in young children.Hence urine culture, the gold standard for diagnosis should be sent if UTI is suspected.