Pediatric Urology

[Lynley]

My daughter has had a UTI pretty much straight for a year and a half, now. We've been seeing a urologist for a year, and she has has a VCUG done, says it came back normal. She had a urethral dilation, and no blockage was seen. She doesn't really exhibit the classic symptoms, no pain, fever. She just "goes" alot. When I was pregnant with her, they discovered she had hydrephonsis, which they say corrected itself, however upon a ultrasound, her one kidney is more swollen than the other. Her urologist says this is normal, but I am hesitant due to her UTI's She also is seeing a GI for bowel issues. She is on lactulose to help.
Has anyone else's child had this? I am trying to get her in to see another urologist because the one she is at now, keeps telling me it's normal, and that it will go away. Yet she has been on anitbiotics straight for over a year!

[jjohnson077]

I managed a pediatric urology office for 13 years, working in a university setting with one of the nations outstanding pediatric urologists. Urinary tract infection was one of the most common complaints. Based on your comments, you may be taking your daughter to a board certified pediatric urologist. That is a good thing because the board certified pediatric urologist has had extended training in the pediatric specialty of urology. Urine culture and sensitivity (to determine which drug(s) are indicated for treatment of the UTI) are always done before prescribing medication to assure that the meds used are the most beneficial. I am assuming that your doctors are following that criteria. I wish you the very best of treatment and success with your daughter's treatment.

[Lynley]

They did figure that only one antibiotic works on her, however, she has now been on that medication and it's no longer working, so I am still giving her the antibiotic, twice a day for a week, then she goes to once a day, indefinetly. My concern is the only one that worked on her, is no longer working, and that's not good.

[MyKidsRock]

I think you should definitely get a second opinion. My daughter had recurrent infections (8 before she was 11 months old) and we also struggled with antibiotic resistance. We never found an antibiotic that stopped her infections (although she still takes one everyday). My daughter eventually had to have a vesicostomy (urinary diversion through her abdomen) to prevent infections b/c she has reflux and we were concerned about her kidneys. If your daughter doesn't have reflux (which is great!), UTI's may not be as dangerous, but I think I would still be concerned. Something must be going on for her to have that many UTI's.

Sorry I don't have any other useful info, but I know how frustrating the constant infections can be. I hope you get it figured out soon.

[Chloemommy1]

Hi there. My daughter suffers from VUR grade 3 in both kidneys which is why she gets continuous UTI's. I work for a company that specializes in kidney dialysis and have had a lot of conversations with not only my daughter's urologists but with nephrologists (specialist of the kidneys) I work with and your child may have an issue with the kidneys not releasing all of the urine, so it may not be an issue with the bladder or ureters which is what the VCUG looks at. I would follow up with a pediatric nephrologist to rule out any issues with the kidneys. Like your child mine also has recurrent UTIs with little or no symptoms, most of the time she doesn't have any symptoms at all until the infection is severe and has progressed to her kidneys. If your child was born with the reflux and never suffered a UTI when she was little you would probably never have known of the issue and if it is a grade 3 or lower most kids outgrow the issue by the age of 5. Your gut feeling about there being more to her UTIs is probably right. I hope this helps. Good luck and I hope your daughter starts to feel better.