title: Childhood urinary conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urinary abnormalities are commonly detected in children and can be due to a wide range of conditions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article provides an overview of common urinary abnormalities presenting in childhood to assist general practitioners in planning further investigation and management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An initial assessment based upon a comprehensive history, examination and urinalysis should ensure that serious conditions are not overlooked and that unnecessary laboratory studies are not performed. Urinary dipstick testing should not be used to diagnose a urinary tract infection, but can often be used as a screen to exclude one. Isolated microscopic haematuria is only rarely a sign of significant kidney or urinary tract disease and nonpostural proteinuria is a more important diagnostic and prognostic finding that requires specialist assessment. In the majority of cases, the family can be reassured that the risk of significant kidney disease in asymptomatic children with minor urinary abnormalities is small.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Child and Adolescent Renal Service, Royal Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland. steven_mctaggart@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: McTaggart
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006417:Hematuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy* / Q000652:urine