Utilità dell'anamnesi nello studio dei lattanti con infezioni urinarie a rischio di uropatie malformative

The incidence of clinical symptoms and of anamnestic records were evaluated in 34 healthy controls and in 75 infants, under 18 months of age, consewcutively admitted to the pediatric clinic for symptomatic urinary tract infections (UTI); in 40 of them a urinary tract malformation (UTM) was demonstrated while in the other 35 the UTIs were uncomplicated. Clinical symptoms were significantly more frequent in patients than in controls. No differences in all parameters considered were found between the two groups of patients, except for the age at first radiological investigations which appeared significantly lower either in all children with UTM, or only in males. Children with UTM also appear to have had more symptoms suggesting a compromised physical condition. Our results, which should be confirmed by a prospective study, suggest that the use of detailed and specifically oriented chart in order to take a precise clinical history with a quantification of the more important symptoms could contribute, with the results of bioumoral indexes, to selct the children with symptomatic UTM at ahigher risk for UTM in whom early radiological investigations have to be made. A prospective study seems to be justified.