Evidence of a link between fever and microscopic hematuria in children

Despite the common conception that febrile illnesses are associated with microscopic hematuria in children, a review of the literature failed to disclose supportive evidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate this relationship. Background data were collected for a convenience sample of children aged 4–18 years who presented to the emergency department (ED) of a tertiary pediatric medical center. Vital signs were measured and a midstream urine specimen was collected. Specimens positive for the presence of blood (>5 erythrocytes/μl; Combur 10 Test Strips) were examined microscopically. Patients found to have microscopic hematuria (>5 erythrocytes/high power field) were asked to undergo repeated urine testing within 3 weeks or at least 1 week after the fever (if present) resolved. A telephone interview was conducted 9–10 years after the ED visit, for all children with microscopic hematuria. Data were coded and transferred to Microsoft Excel 2007 (Raymond Wa), and then analyzed using SPSS 15 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). Six hundred sixty patients were enrolled in the study; 161 were febrile (mean temperature 39.2 ± .08 °C), and 499 were afebrile (mean temperature 36.7 ± 0.4 °C) ( p