Urinary Findings In Young Adults In Abakaliki, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of urinary abnormalities in young adults living in Abakaliki, Southeastern Nigeria. Method: Two hundred and fifty (250) clean-catched mid-stream urine samples obtained between October 2005 and June 2006 from apparently healthy young adults, aged 18-25 years (mean= 19.7 ± 4.1 years) resident in Abakaliki, comprising 151 (60.4%) females and 99 (39.6%) males were analysed using standard laboratory procedures and techniques. Results: The prevalence of urinary abnormalities was found to be 20.7%. In addition to leucocyte esterase and pyuria, which were found in significantly more female samples than the males\' (p < 0.05), there were generally more abnormalities in female urine samples than their male counterparts (p < 0.05). The major abnormalities recorded were pyuria (47.1%), bacteriuria (21.6%), proteinuria (14.0%) and
haematuria (8.0%). Conclusion: The finding supports routine urine screening as an important disease surveillance approach in young adults Nigerians resident in Abakaliki metropolis.

Keywords: Urinalysis, Diagnosis, Urinary Tract Infection, Young Adults.

Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (3) 2008: pp. 275-278