[Febrile Urinary Tract Infections: When are they an Emergency?] / Der fieberhafte Harnwegsinfekt ­ Wann ein Notfall?

ABSTRACT

Urinary tract infections should be suspected in every febrile infant until proven otherwise. While older children and adolescents mostly present with classical features such as dysuria, flank pain and/or abdominal pain, secondary enuresis or pollakiuria, diagnosing infants or newborns, who are incapable of describing or pinpointing pain, can be much more challenging. As such, an infection with gradual and subtle onset may result in fulminant disease and emergency situations. In children with urinary tract infections and known mechanical or functional obstructions of the urinary tract, adequate drainage of the infected urinary tract may be necessary (e. g. nephrostomy, ureteral stent or transurethral catheter).