Comparison of serum vitamin D levels in children one to six years with urinary tract infections and healthy children

Urinary tract infection is one of the most common infectious diseases in children, the most severe form of which is acute pyelonephritis. Vitamin D plays a very important role in regulating the immune system, this study was conducted to compare vitamin D levels in children with urinary tract infections and healthy children in Kerman, Iran in 2020.

This cross-sectional study was performed on 63 children with pyelonephritis hospitalized in Afzalipour Hospital and 68 healthy children who were referred to Samen Al-Hojaj Clinic in Kerman, Iran from January 2020 to January 2021. Inclusion criteria for patients include the following: a) the presence of clinical signs and symptoms of infection such as fever b) pyuria, neurogenic bladder, urinary stones, chronic renal failure and previous diagnosis of urinary reflux. The case group was evaluated by taking a complete history, completing a questionnaire and clinical examination, and laboratory tests. The two groups were compared in terms of variables of sex, age and vitamin D levels.

The mean age of the case group was 34 months and that of the control group was 38 months. The mean serum levels of vitamin D in the case and control groups were 34.66 and 42.9, respectively). P=0.016( Each group was divided into three groups according to the amount of vitamin D, including groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively, with vitamin D levels below 25 nanomoles per liter of deficiency, 25 to 50 inadequate and above 50 as the appropriate amount of vitamin D was considered. There was no significant difference between girls and boys in terms of vitamin D deficiency compared to the three groups of vitamin D levels.

Inadequate vitamin D levels are associated with the prevalence of urinary tract infections, and vitamin D supplementation can be a low-risk option for preventing urinary tract infections.