Prevalence of urinary tract infection in severely malnourished preschool children.

Eighty eight severely malnourished preschool children (Grade III or Grade IV, IAP classification) were studied to find out the prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI). Fifty three well nourished preschool children served as controls. Urine samples were collected by suprapubic aspiration in children below 3 years and in older children a clean catch midstream sample of urine was collected. The urine samples were subjected to direct microscopic examination, Gram's stain and culture. UTI was detected in 7 (8%) of the 88 malnourished children. Besides UTI, the other associated infections included respiratory tract infection (31.8%), diarrhea (27.2%) and tuberculous meningitis (12.7%).