[magaldys]

My almost 2 year old adopted daughter (she'll be 2 this month) was recently dx with kidney reflux - grade 2 in one kidney and grade 3 in the other. We have concerns about her taking a daily antibiotic daily due to all the info. out there on NOT taking antibiotics unless absolutley necessary. In addition, she's had bouts of vomiting for the past 7 weeks (vomiting started about 1 week after starting antibiotic) and we are wondering if the meds are causing the sickness? NO UTI and she's had upper and lower GI to see if vomiting was being caused by something else. All negative. My Ped. and Urologist are insistent that she be on meds to protect kidneys (which we understand). Any thoughts on taking antibiotics vs. trying to prevent UTI's more naturally???? particuarly if we find the meds are making her sick?? HELP!!!! Thanks, Melissa

[MyKidsRock]

Hello. We have had this same argument with our urologist numerous times. In my own experience, abx have been ineffective at reducing utis. My daughter has had numerous infections while taking abx, 2 of which were resistant strains of bacteria. She also has digestion problems and yeast problems b/c of the abx. We are in a little bit different situation, b/c she has grade 5 reflux as well as other conditions which make abx mandatory for us right now. If I had an option, she would not be taking them. If I were you, I might consider getting a second opinion. There are other alternatives such as probiotics, or the good ole wait and see approach. There are a lot more doctors taking these approaches these days.

Here are a few good articles on using abx to treat reflux. You'll have to cut and paste, sorry.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/1741p5k22284x265/
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/peds.2007-2652v1
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/528227
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/575842
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/562433

Hope that helps!

[magaldys]

THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! We've been talking about seeking a second opinion and the possibilities of other options to treat. My Ped. and Urologist act like i'm crazy though!! I appreciate your input. And good luck with your daughter. I'll say a prayer for her and her Doctors. :0)

[Chloemommy1]

my daughter was diagnosed at 2 months old after having the first infection just after birth it went undiagnosed for an unacceptable time. She was hospitalized and the started on preventive antiobiotic therapy. Every antiobiotic she was on she developed a resisitance to and this made it that much harder to treat the infections when they did happen. I would stress you make your concerns known to whomever you speak with. Sometimes a parent's gut instinct is the best pre-cursor to what's best and when something is wrong. My daughter is 5 now and while we had some close calls in the past with her reflux she is a healthy girl today. She was born with grade 3 in both kidneys. Hope this helps.

[magaldys]

I just wanted to say thank you for your reply. I'm glad your daughter is doing well now. And i agree that sometimes, a parents "gut" is correct. I just feel strongly about this and am concerned about the daily antibiotic. Did your daughters reflux clear up on it's own or is she still being treated for it? Thanks again. It's so hard sometimes to question the Dr., particulary when they don't agree with you at all! :-)

[Chloemommy1]

My daughter still suffers from infections from time to time but thankfully not in her kidneys. My daughter was tested at 5 months old with a test called a VCUG-she was a grade 3 in both kidneys. At 15 months old she was a grade 1 in both kidneys. I did further research on my own and found the most children with a grades 1-3 will resolve without surgery on their own usually by the age of 5. While my daughter will be followed by a pediatric urologist for her adolescent years and possibly into her adult years-this is for monitoring. She is being set up to have another VCUG to check to see that the condition has resolved itself. At the age of 5 sedation is given to the child to make the experience less traumatizing. My little one hasn't been on any antibiotics in 2.5 years. It is a very hard thing to go through both parents and children. Most families don't go through this so it's not something you can usually call up a friend and ask how they are handling it. Have faith it will get better with time as long as you stay proactive and aware of your child. Alot of the time you can catch an infection when it is still in the bladder making it easier to treat. As my child got older and was able to better communicate to me her symptoms we were able to stop the antibiotics to only when an infection showed up. The doctors sometimes look to us parents to give them the answer (they won't admit it though) I can say the antibiotic therapy may or may not have helped my daughter-she had so many break through infections and am not sure they did. I strongly feel she has outgrown her condition though and will continue to not have any ill side effects. I hope this helps and you have wonderful Holidays.