BACTERIURIA AMONG PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS IN AKURE NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

Bacteriuria in urinary tract infection is severe and associated with considerable morbidity if left untreated. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of bacteriuria among primary and secondary school pupils in Akure North Local Government Area. The study included subjects from the highly populated schools in this local government area. The samples analyzed were exclusively collected from volunteer pupils whose age and sex were documented by the questionnaire distributed to them. Urine samples were collected randomly under aseptic conditions from 250 pupils aged 5-20 attending primary and secondary schools. Urine samples were subjected to microbiological analysis by culturing 1 mL each on nutrient agar, mannitol salt agar, cystine lactose electrolyte deficient agar, plate count agar and chocolate agar for possible isolation of any bacteria. Bacterial colonies were enumerated and identified to the species level. Analytical indices revealed bacteriuria to be more common in female (41.2%) than male (3.2%) subjects. The highest bacterial count in female urine samples was 281x10(3) against 149x10(3) in male samples. A higher infection rate was recorded in secondary school pupils aged 11-20. Escherichia coli predominated among isolated bacteria species with 48.8%. Laboratory results confirmed urinary tract infection in some of the study pupils. As only volunteer pupils submitted their samples for analysis, this small population was represented in the study, predominated by female subjects. None of the pupils showed signs of infection, therefore routine laboratory checkup is important among children in order to limit damage to some of their vital tissues.