Genitourinary tuberculosis in children - a diagnostic challenge

Pediatricians frequently encounter hematuria in children. One of the tardy complication of pulmonary tuberculosis, which is most characteristic and common in teenagers and middle aged, is represented by genitourinary tuberculosis. Renal tuberculosis is rare during childhood. The authors present a series of cases where the presenting symptom was gross or microscopic persistent hematuria. The diagnosis of urogenital tuberculosis was established from early-morning urine culture in all cases. In a patient with symptoms of recurrent urinary tract infection or hematuria associated with sterile pyuria the suspicion of GUTB must be considered. A delayed diagnosis of renal tuberculosis led to kidney damage and sequels of GUTB, including renal failure. Our cases report emphasizes that in case of persistent hematuria GUTB may be considered as a differential diagnosis