Parent's opinions on the diagnosis of children under 2 years of age with urinary tract infection

BACKGROUND

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in childhood can be diagnosed in 5% of febrile infants. Renal scarring is associated with increasing numbers of UTI episodes, and the incidence of renal scarring rises with each urinary infection. High levels of awareness of childhood UTI are important among both professionals and parents. Whilst problems for professionals in making the diagnosis have been explored, few data exist concerning parental understanding and perspectives.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to assess parental understanding of UTI in their child and identify any delay perceived in the diagnosis, along with identifying how helpful parents had found any information that they had been given.

METHODS

Subjects were the parents of children aged <2 years being investigated in one out-patient department following proven UTI. A semi-structured questionnaire was given to parents at first attendance (quantitative data) and content analysis of qualitative data was carried out.

RESULTS

Fifty-two out of 84 parents responded (response rate 64%), of whom 45 (86.5%) felt that they had been given a full explanation of the significance of UTI in childhood. Forty percent felt that clean catch was the easiest method of obtaining a urine sample from their child. Although the quantitative data were positive, several themes were identified in the qualitative data, relating to lack of awareness, delay in investigation by health professionals and issues regarding the information that had been imparted to parents. Parents would like more information about the illness that affects their child, and many would like this in leaflet form.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents perceive low awareness levels and delays in investigation of UTI in childhood amongst health professionals. Increasing awareness about the importance of UTI in childhood, its incidence and management should be generated amongst health professionals who deal with young children. Parents need and would like more information about the disease and how to identify it, with guidance on urine collection. Further research is needed into whether educational strategies for either parents or health professionals are effective in identifying UTI earlier, and what the best methods of implementing these would be.

A mass balance study to evaluate the biotransformation and excretion of [14C]-triamcinolone acetonide following oral administration

The principle objective of this study was to characterize the absorption, metabolism, and disposition of orally administered [14C]-triamcinolone acetonide. Six healthy male subjects each received a single 100 microCi (approximately 800 micrograms) oral dose of [14C]-triamcinolone acetonide. Plasma, urine, and fecal samples were collected at selected times and analyzed for triamcinolone acetonide and [14C]-derived radioactivity. Plasma protein binding of triamcinolone acetonide was also determined. Metabolite profiling and identification were carried out in plasma and excreta. Principle metabolites were assessed for activity with in vitro anti-inflammatory models. [14C]-triamcinolone acetonide was found to be systemically absorbed following oral administration. The presystemic metabolism and clearance of triamcinolone acetonide were extensive, with only a small fraction of the total plasma radioactivity being made up of triamcinolone acetonide. Little to no parent compound was detected in the plasma 24 hours after administration. Most of the urinary and fecally [14C]-derived radioactivity was also excreted within 24 and 72 hours postdose, respectively. Mean plasma protein binding of triamcinolone acetonide was constant, predictable, and a relatively low 68% over a 24-fold range of plasma concentrations. Three principle metabolites of triamcinolone acetonide were profiled in plasma, urine, and feces. These metabolites were identified as 6 beta-hydroxy triamcinolone, 21-carboxylic acid triamcinolone acetonide, and 6 beta-hydroxy-21-oic triamcinolone acetonide. All three metabolites failed to show any concentration-dependent effects in anti-inflammatory models evaluating IL-5-sustained eosinophil viability and IgE-induced basophil histamine release.