Kidney Diseases Screening for Asymptomatic School Children by Urine Dipstick Method

Abstract

Background: Screening of urine is a useful tool to identify school children with renal diseases who are asymptomatic. A dipstick urinalysis screening was conducted on World Kidney Day to determine the kidney disease from asymptomatic school going children.

Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in a secondary school in Kathmandu, Nepal. 579 asymptomatic children were enrolled. Morning mid-stream urine samples were obtained from students and tested by dipstick method.

Results: Seventy (12.08%) children had urinary abnormalities at the screening in the form of proteinuria, none had glycosuria. Urinary abnormalities were more common in females than in males. Children with hypertension were more likely to have proteinuria than normotensive children. Most positive results were detected in the age group 9-12 years. Body mass index had no correlation with proteinuria.

Conclusion: The study found that there is high burden of proteinuria (>12%) indicated asymptomatic urine abnormalities. Hence only early detection of renal disorders in childhood will lead to effective interventions and reduction in the number of individuals with renal disease.