Idiopathic bilateral hydronephrosis

[Mindful Mom]

Anyone have a LO with this?

DS (almost 8) was diagnosed with it about 2 years ago and I had mostly put it out of my mind until I read something recently and got freaked out.

Here's what happened:

One evening he had a slight bit of blood in his urine (just a small amount at the very end of the stream). I had him in to the doctor within 48-hours. His urine tested neg. for blood and it has never happened again. The doc said it was probably a fluke thing (possibly an slight injury) and to just let it go unless it happened again.

I was a little unsettled so I took him to a ped. urologist who did an ultrasound. The u/s was normal except for the bilateral hydronephrosis. Urologist sent us for a VCUG, which was totally normal. We were told that the hydronephrosis was just a "normal abnormal". The urologist said he'd seen cases like ours before and, based on the imagining, we didn't need to come back unless DS developed strange symptoms or had more bleeding. BTW -- he also said the bleeding was either the result of some trauma or, possibly, from holding his urine for too long.

So -- anyone ever heard of this?

[workjw]

I don't know anything about "idiopathic" hydronephrosis specifically, but I do know that some children have mild hydronephrosis and don't require any treatment for it. Having blood in the urine is also common with no other issues or problems. It only takes a very small amount of blood for urine to look red.

DD has a number of urological issues, and had mild hydronephrosis which her urologist was unconcerned about because it was mild. We did monitor it (only b/c of her other issues) and it eventually went away. It sounds like your urologist performed all the right testing to ensure that there was not a problem, but if you are concerned you might want to have another u/s done. If he has not shown any other signs or symptoms of urinary problems, I wouldn't be overly concerned, but I know that is easier said than done.

eta- It's also fairly common for babies to show hydro in utero and for it to correct itself before birth.

[Kailey's mom]

I wouldn't be too overly concerned, but I would definitly have him under the care of a nephrologist instead of a urologist for yearly monitoring kwim.

[etherealmuse]

idiopathic bilateral hydronephrosis

The blood in the urine could have been a stone. It is not as likely but can happen in children, and people in the southern states are more prone. Not that those with hydro are more prone to stones but they can be affected by dehydration more.

When I was pregnant with my second child they saw that his kidneys were slightly dialated in utero so they just followed him with sonos throughout the rest of the pregnancy. They ran all the different tests after he was born and could find no reason for his condidtion. Between 4 and 5 he started to have vomiting fits every so many months for 24 hours with no other symptoms - which would dehydrate him and may have been caused by dehydration. At 5 years old he was admitted for observation after a bad bout that left his electrolytes low. He only had stomach pain and vomiting... three days later they found that he had 2 kidney stones. Thye treated the pain, placed a stent and after a few weeks they passed and the stent was removed...

So it is ok to be worried BUT not too worried. After the stones we just make sure our DS stays well hydrated, gets cooled off after activities, and switched him from Soccer to gymnastics (so he could be active but not get dehydrated to quickly from being in the sun)... The only thing we do beyond that is a yearly renal ultrsound to keep track of his kidney's. Good luck and ask your nephrologist for input, if you have one and get one if you dont.

~Proud mom of a "stoner" and hyro kid