Diagnostic testing strategies in childhood urinary tract infections

The diagnosis of urinary tract infections in children can be elusive, and d iagnostic tests are often helpful. The author reviews the types of diagnost ic tests, emphasizing the need for clinicians to develop skills in estimati ng the baseline risk of urinary tract infection, understand the implication of results from tests with different sensitivities and specificities, and adjust their diagnostic strategies to meet the decision at hand.