Urinalysis in Clinically Stable Nigerian Newborns

Abstract

Summary: Urinalysis, using the multistix strip, was carried out in 80 clinically stable nor mal newborns comprising 60 pre-term and 20 term babies. Glycosuria was not identified in any baby. All the term babies had 1+ proteinuria while proteinuria of 1+ or 2+ was recorded in 42 (70 percent) of the 60 preterm babies. The mean urine pH in the preterm babies was 6.7 as against 5.7 in the term babies (P<0.001). The findings in this study suggest mild proteinuria in early neonatal period and negative correlation between urinary pH and gestational age.