Association between urinary tract infection, renal damage and birth size

The aim of this study was to investigate whether birth size is associated w ith permanent renal damage in children with urinary tract infection (UTI). A cohort of 1221 children under 16 y of age was diagnosed with their first symptomatic UTI between 1970 and 1979. Of these, 74 had urographic renal sc arring in childhood and 57 were re-examined as adults. The birth files of 4 8 of these patients (35F, 13M) were available, and birthweight and birthlen gth in relation to gestational age were analysed and compared with a Swedis h reference population. Children who had renal damage without vesicoureteri c reflux were significantly smaller at birth (median weight, -0.76 SDS) com pared with both children who had renal damage and reflux (median weight, -0 .01 SDS) and the reference population. Conclusion: The demonstration of low birthweight among children with UTI an d renal damage but no reflux suggests that low birthweight may be a risk fa ctor for the development of renal damage.