Guidance
Recommendations for research
The guideline committee has made the following recommendations for research. The committee's full set of recommendations for research is detailed in the full guideline.
Key recommendations for research
1 Symptoms and signs of urinary tract infection in children and young people aged 5 years and above but under 16 years
What are the symptoms and signs of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children and young people aged 5 years and above but under 16 years? [2022]
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on symptoms and signs.
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review B: symptoms and signs.
2 Long-term risk of renal scarring and impaired renal function
A well designed cohort study investigating long-term outcomes including renal scarring and renal function of children who have had UTI should be conducted in the UK. [2017]
Why this is important
Urinary tract infection and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in young children have been shown to be associated with both congenital and acquired renal damage. Progressive scarring is well documented in children with high grade VUR and recurrent UTI. Scarring has been associated with severe hypertension, proteinuria, complications in pregnancy and progression to established renal failure. These risks are likely to be greater in children with bilateral renal parenchymal defects. However, the frequency and magnitude of these risks for children with unilateral and bilateral renal damage are unclear. Knowledge of the risk of serious or progressive complications would be useful to determine the management of children with first‑time and recurrent UTIs.
3 Symptoms and signs of recurrent UTI
Do the symptoms and signs of UTI in babies, children and young people aged under 16 years differ in those with a history of recurrent UTIs compared with those without a history of recurrent UTI? [2022]
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on symptoms and signs.
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review B: symptoms and signs.
4 Symptoms and signs of long-term (chronic) UTI
What symptoms and signs do children and young people with long-term (chronic) UTI report and what do they perceive is the impact on their health and quality of life? [2022]
For a short explanation of why the committee made this recommendation for research, see the rationale section on symptoms and signs.
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review B: symptoms and signs.