Chlamydial infection of the urinary tract in children and adolescents withhematuria

Urogenital infection with Chlamydia trachomatis in adults and adolescents i s a common sexually transmitted disease. The purpose of this study was to i nvestigate whether isolated microhematuria in children and adolescents is a ssociated with Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the urinary tract. The st udy group included 37 children and adolescents with isolated nonglomerular microhematuria. Urethral smears for the isolation of Chlamydia trachomatis in cell culture were taken at the time of cystourethroscopy from all patien ts. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of chlamydial DNA in urine was carried out in 25 of 37 (68%) patients and direct immunofluoresce nce (DIF) of urine in 16 of 37 (43%) patients. The control group included 3 3 children and adolescents without hematuria; PCR and DIF of urine were car ried out in all controls. Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the urinary tr act was confirmed in 8 of 37 (22%) patients in the study group, and in none in the control group (0 of 33, P<0.001). Further studies of larger groups of patients should be conducted, before recommending testing for Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the urinary tract in children and adolescents with unexplained microhematuria.