What parameters are taken into account in the general analysis of urine (OAM)?
When conducting a general analysis of urine in children pay attention to the same indicators and properties, as in adults:
- transparency;
- Colour;
- specific gravity;
- acidity;
- cells ( erythrocytes , leukocytes , epithelium);
- sugar;
- ketone bodies;
- protein;
- bacteria;
- salt.
It is the above listed indicators that are taken into account when carrying out urinalysis in children, comparing them with the value of the norm.
How is the OAM results assessed?
When deciphering the analysis of the urine of a child, the lab technician compares the result with a table in which the norm of a parameter is indicated.
- Color - normal straw-yellow, in newborns urine may be colorless. Sometimes after eating some products, or taking a number of medications, it changes color. This is also taken into account when summarizing the results.
- Transparency - Normally, urine should be transparent. If it is cloudy, it usually speaks of an infectious process.
- Acidity may be weakly acidic or slightly alkaline. However, urine is often weakly acidic, especially in infants who are breastfed.
- The specific weight - depends on how the child's kidneys work, so the indicator varies with age. Up to 2 years, the density is equal to 1,002-1,004, and already to 3 - 1,017, in 4-5 years -1,012-1,020.
- Erythrocytes - 0-1 in the field of view.
- Leukocytes - 0-2 in the field of view.
The remaining parameters are taken into account when carrying out biochemical analysis of urine in children (sugar, ketone bodies, protein, bacteria, salts).
Thus, it is rather difficult to independently decipher the urine test of a child, without knowing the norm indicators.