Abstract

To investigate clinical features, laboratory, and imaging characters in Chinese children, we conducted a retrospective study on 14 children with acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) admitted in Beijing Children’s Hospital during January 2005 to December 2009. Six girls and eight boys with a mean age of 4.7 years (range: 0.3-11.4 years) were followed up on average 1.7 years (range: 0.5-3.5 years). Leukocyturia was found in 10/14 children. Urine cultures were positive in 10/14 cases; E. coli was the most common cause of AFBN. A combination of nephromegaly and focal mass was found in 11/14 patients. Urinary tract anomalies were found in 8 children. Two boys had underlying disease of acute lymphatic leukemia under chemotherapy. AFBN resolved on average 3-12 weeks after therapy. Ultrasound and enhanced CT were not necessary in cases of fever of unknown origin, even if pyuria nor urine culture is positive. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), malignancy and renal vascular malformation are potential risk factors of AFBN; careful radiological investigations should be performed.

Key words: Acute focal bacterial nephritis, vesicoureteral reflux, children.