Introduction
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the second most common bacterial infection in children.
 
Aim of the study
To estimate the value of urinary Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in diagnosis of UTI in children and also if it can differentiate between upper and lower UTI.
 
Patients and Methods
This study included 80 children, divided into 40 patients suffering from UTI and 40 healthy children served as a control group. Patients were classified into acute pyelonephritis (n=22) and lower UTI (n=18). Urine IL-6 was measured by enzyme-linked immune- sorbent assay (ELISA) technique.
 
Results
Urinary IL-6 was significantly higher in patients with UTI than control group (p value <0.001) and also it was significantly higher in upper than lower UTI cases (p value <0.001).
 
Conclusion
Urinary IL-6 level is a reliable diagnostic tool for early identification of UTI in febrile children. The study confirms usefulness of Urinary IL-6 level is a reliable diagnostic tool for early identification of urinary IL-6 to differentiate between upper and lower UTIs.