PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in Korean preschool children, we performed national survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We surveyed kindergardens in seven representative cities of Korea. Before performing urine culture, we selected children by urine dipstick screening method(leukocyte esterase and nitrite test). And we analysed the incidence according to sex, age and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Total registered population was 2,239 children and male to female ratio was 1.16. Overall, asymptomatic bacteriuria was found in 1.03%(23 children). In the male the incidence was 0.3%(3 children) and in the female it was 2.0%(19 children). Less than 4 years old children showed higher incidence (2.9%) than those of any other age groups, such as, 0.5% in 4, 1.1% in 5 and 1.3% in 6 years old. High, middle and low socioeconomic status groups showed the incidence as 0%, 0.9% and 1.4%, respectively The number of leukocyte esterase positive children was 184(8.2%) and that of nitrite positive children was 115(5.1%). Among them urine culture was performed in 175children and 23 children showed significant bacteriuria(colony count> 100,000/ml), so predictability of asymptomatic bacteriuria by dipstick test was 13.1% Radiologic study was performed in 9 children who had bacteriuria, but none of them showed urological abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: From the above data, we found that asymptomatic bacteriuria is more common in female, younger age and lower socioeconomic status among the Korean preschool children. Considering cost-benefit aspects of the screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria, however, we should re-evaluate the necessity of our study on these particular age groups.
Bacteriuria* ; Child ; Child, Preschool* ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Social Class