Recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the major health problems in children because of its high rate of occurrence. This study aimed at evaluating the frequency of recurrent urinary tract infection and related factors in children aged two months to 15 years old, refereed to the pediatric nephrology clinic of Zahedan city.

In this descriptive study, 270 children with urinary tract infection were studied. The sampling method was convenient. Information was gathered from patients and their files. Data was analyzed by the SPSS version 18 software, using Chi Square and T-test.

The mean age of the children was 4.3 ± 3.7 years old. Thirty-four children (12.6%) were male and 236 (87.4%) female (P > 0.05). Overall, 109 children (73.6%) with recurrent UTI and 53 children (44.2%) without recurrent UTI had abnormal ultrasonography (P = 0.001). Furthermore, 115 children (76.7%) with recurrent UTI and 100 children (83.3%) with first UTI had positive results for E. coli culture (P = 0.177). Seventy-nine children (54.5%) with recurrent UTI and 61 children (39%) with first UTI were diagnosed to have elimination syndrome (P = 0.067). Abnormal VCUG was found in 39 children (47.6%) of 82 children with recurrent UTI yet children with first UTI had normal VCUG (P = 0.001).

There was no difference regarding age, gender, dysfunctional elimination syndrome, and urine culture in children with recurrent UTI compared to those with first UTI, yet abnormal VCUG, kidney, and urinary tract ultrasonography were much more common in children with recurrent UTI.