How Do You Prevent Vesicoureteral Reflux?
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), which is present in about 1 percent of otherwise healthy children, isn’t preventable. However, most of the resulting infections are. This type of reflux is usually a birth defect resulting in a short flap valve between the ureter and bladder that’s ineffective and allows the urine to travel backwards from the bladder to the kidneys. One or both ureters may be affected. Learn about the tests used to diagnose VUR. A voiding cystourethrogram is a series of x-rays showing the bladder, after filling it with an x-ray dye. A catheter placed into the urethra allows the doctor to inject the dye until the bladder is full, and then the x-rays show whether urine goes back up to the kidneys as your child empties the bladder. Expect your child’s doctor to treat some less severe forms of VUR with low dose antibiotics as a prophylactic or to treat an existing infection. They won’t cure VUR but will help prevent urinary tract infections, while waiting to see if your child o
