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Urinary Tract Infection in Febrile Children with Sickle Cell Anaemia
Abstract
Objective: To determine the prevalence of bacteriuria and bacterial isolates in the urine of febrile children with sickle cell anaemia.
Methods: This was a prospective study carried out on 250 children with SCA and 250 controls with HbAA aged 6 months to 15 years. Following clinical assessment, midstream urine or urine obtained by suprapubic bladder aspiration was collected and subjected to microscopy and culture.
Results: Bacteriuria was found in 65 (26%) of children with SCA and controls 514 (20.4%) of controls, p>0.05. Escherichia coli [16 (27.7%)] and Klebsiella species [16(24.6%)] were the predominant isolates in SCA group, while Escherichia coli [13(37.3%)] and Coliforms (25.4%) were predominant in the control group. Significant bacteruria occurred in patients with other clinical conditions such as pneumonia and septicaemia.
Conclusion: Urinary tract infection is common in children with SCA. Routine screening is therefore recommended during febrile illnesses.