Clinical and urinary findings in children presenting at the children outpatient clinic (CHOP) in a tertiary hospital in Abakiliki, South-East, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Childhood renal diseases have been reported to be on the increase globally in recent times and possible reasons are not fully comprehended. This increasing trend may be related to the late presentation of majority of these patients who often are asymptomatic initially.  This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of urinary abnormalities and hypertension using urinary and clinical findings in children who present at the index Hospital's Children's out-patient clinic.  Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving children who were seen at the hospital with varying symptoms. Relevant history and clinical examinations were obtained on each of the study subjects following standard protocols.  Fresh morning urine samples of subjects were subjected to dipstick urinalysis to assess presence of Protein, Blood and Nitrites. Data was analyzed using SPSS 21.0 (p < 0.05).

Results: One hundred subjects out of the 157 patients were studied, 60% of whom were males. The most frequent symptoms were headache (72%), abdominal pains (65%), fever (46%) and increased urinary frequency (43%). Twenty-five (25%) had hypertension. Forty-four (44%) children had abnormal urinary findings existing either alone or in combination, with proteinuria being the most common urinary abnormality, occurring in 23% of them.

Conclusion: Abnormal urinary findings were observed to be high among the subjects. It becomes pertinent that urinalysis and routine blood pressure measurement be advocated for all children seen at the CHOP irrespective of their presenting symptoms. Abnormal findings should further be evaluated as part of a nephro-preventive strategy.

 Keywords: Proteinuria, hematuria ,Nitrituria, Hypertension, Outpatients Clinics, Children