J Compr Ped. 2018 August; 9(3):e62557.
Published online 2018 August 14.
doi: 10.5812/compreped.62557.
Research Article
Evaluation of the Prevalence of Urinary Tract Infection in Children
with Febrile Seizure
Behrang Kazeminezhad
1
, Hamid Taghinejad
2
, Milad Borji
2, *
and Reza Seymohammadi
3
1
Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
3
Student Research Committee, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
*
Corresponding author: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran. Tel: +98-9183404704, Email:
borji_milad@yahoo.com
Received 2017 October 07; Revised 2017 November 21; Accepted 2017 December 10.
Abstract
Background: Febrile seizure is the most common seizure disorder during childhood. Although its prognosis is appropriate, it
may indicate a serious infection. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in
children with febrile seizure.
Methods: This is a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in 2017 in 238 children from Ilam. Data were collected us-
ing a demographic questionnaire answered by the children. The patients’ records and diagnostic test results were used in a survey
on disease history, considering the description of febrile seizure, the cause of referral, the necessary tests performed, body temper-
ature measured using the axillary method, and seizure days. Data were analyzed by the SPSS version 18 software using descriptive
and analytical statistics.
Results: The findings showed that from among the 238 children studied, 143 (60.1%) were girls, 132 (55.5%) were aged 13 to 24 months,
145 (60.9%) had the first seizure on the first day of admission, and 92 (38.7%) had a fever with a body temperature between 37°C and
38°C. In addition, the findings showed that 28 (11.28%) children had UTI and 210 (88.2%) had no UTI. No correlation was found between
UTI and seizure (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: No correlation was found between UTI and seizure. Other studies among other children with febrile seizure should
be performed.
Keywords: Prevalence, Urinary Tract Infection, Febrile Seizure
1. Background
Childhood is the stage of transition from infancy to
adolescence. At this stage, growth mutations and phys-
iological changes occur until adulthood. Childhood is a
path toward the age of maturity (1). Over the past years,
health has been recognized as a human right and social
goal. The age group of 7 to 15 years, especially in the third-
world countries, comprises a major population. Owing to
the vulnerability of this population group, paying atten-
tion to their sanitation and health has an undeniable ef-
fect on the health of the community (2). The success of
students at school is the main objective of any educational
system, which can have a significant impact on the present
and future lives of children and adolescents. Many factors
contribute to students’ school achievement (3), and illness
in the child is an impeding factor to students ‘progress (4).
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a pediatric disorder. The
term is used for a wide range of clinical disorders, from
asymptomatic bacteriuria to kidney infections and sepsis.
When the infection affects the lower urinary tract, it is
known as cystitis, and when it affects the upper urinary
tract, it is known as pyelonephritis (5-7). UTI is the second
most common bacterial disease in children secondary to
upper respiratory tract infections (8). According to esti-
mates, approximately 150 million people get UTI each year
(9). In terms of epidemiology, the prevalence of UTI varies
with age and sex (10). UTI in younger children is usually di-
agnosed when the cause of the fever is examined. It is the
most common bacterial infection that affects the human
life (11). In fact, UTI is one of the most common diseases
in the 2 to 6-year-old group, affecting approximately 3% to
5% of girls and boys (12). In UTI, Escherichia coli pathogens
are common. A wide range of beta-lactamases produced by
E.coli has become widespread worldwide (13). Considering
the renal scars and complications of UTI, screening chil-
dren with UTI for pyelonephritis and renal scars is strongly
recommended (14).
Fever and seizure are the most common disorders dur-
ing childhood. Although its prognosis is appropriate, it
can indicate a serious underlying infection such as sepsis
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