Urinary tract infections among adolescents.

UTIs occur quite frequently among adolescent females. In the vast majority of these patients, UTIs are uncomplicated infections and are not suggestive of underlying anatomic abnormality of the urinary tract. A UTI in an adolescent female is suggestive, however, of sexual debut. A small number of adolescent males suffer from UTI annually; in at least half of such cases, there is likewise no underlying urinary anomaly. Because of the symptomatic overlap and high prevalence of STI in adolescents, the clinician must have a high index of suspicion for STI in any adolescent presenting with urinary symptoms.