Dysuria in infancy and childhood: an analysis of 42 children presenting in the paediatrics outpatients department.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) was the only pathology found among 42 children presenting at the paediatric outpatient department with pain or straining on micturition. 18 (42.9%) had cystourethritis proven bacteriologically. 3 of these had gonococcal urethritis and were all males aged less than 3 years. Four had vasical schistosomiasis. No definite diagnosis could be made in 24 (57.1%) cases. Only secondary symptoms of gross haematuria, urethral discharge and cloudy urine were of diagnostic value, others were not. Children without these specific secondary symptoms predominate and may or may not have urinary tract pathology. Urinary leucocyte count on native urine is a useful screening test to identify those to be further investigated.