Urinalysis in children with epididymitis.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to examine the diagnostic and therapeutic yield of urine tests in epididymitis in children. Recently, urine examination in prepubertal epididymitis has been described as having little value for diagnostic or treatment. Yet, although urine cultures are often sterile, in clinical practice prepubertal boys with epididymitis are often treated with antibiotics.


METHODS
A retrospective analysis of all boys with 1-episode epididymitis presenting to a single institution over a 5-year-period was performed. Results of laboratory tests (blood, urine) were collected.


RESULTS
We found 151 consecutive patients. In 93 cases (62%), results of urine examinations were available. Only 1 patient (1%) showed bacteriuria in urine sediment, while urine culture in this patient was sterile. Urine cultures were done in 6 of 97 patients treated in hospital (6%), and all cultures were sterile. Surgical exploration was performed in 7 patients (5%); in 6 of them epididymal cultures were taken intraoperatively with negative microbiological results.


CONCLUSIONS
In our group of children with epididymitis, almost all urine tests (urinalysis, urine culture) were negative. Epididymitis in prepubertal boys seems to be mostly idiopathic, and positive microbiological findings are rare. Antibiotic treatment in this age group should only be done in cases with positive urine tests.
Graumann
L A
LA
Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital, Philipps University Marburg, Germany. graumann@med.uni-marburg.de
Dietz
H-G
HG
Stehr
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D000075202:Contraindications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004823:Epididymitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy / Q000652:urine*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D016482:Urinalysis / Q000379:methods*; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007052:Ibuprofen