My ds1 had bladder reflux (grade 2 on one side) that we diagnosed at 6months. He took prophylactic antibiotics for 2 1/2 years. It took 3 bladder infections and rounds of antiobiotics to finally get someone to take me seriously. I also had bladder reflux when I was a baby and took prophylactic antibiotics.

Honestly, seeing as most boys have outgrown bladder reflux by age 4 or 5, I'd be waiting until he gets another infection before I put him through that. The danger in that is if he gets another infection and does have reflux he could end up with kidney damage, but it would be hard to convince me that if he had it it wouldn't have shown it's face long before now.

As far as the VCUG, we've gone through 3. If you decide to get it done, we had our local hospital attempt the first one when he was 8months and it was a disaster. They couldn't get the tube in and both ds and I were a wreck. I strongly suggest getting it done at a hospital with a good peds dept. At this age, you can opt for sedation, which we didn't, ds's last one was when he was 3 and the nurse said that he'll still scream but just be out of it and the sedation will knock him out for an entire day. The hospital we were at was great though, so I trusted her and we got it over with with no meds. I'm really glad that we did. You have to know your ds and how well he'd handle something like that though.

I remember having a VCUG, and actually had one at 13 because my infections returned. It is pretty uncomfortable and if you don't have a good technician can take forever. Once the catheter is in it's the filling of the bladder that's really uncomfortable, but not something I would have needed sedation for.

HTH! Good luck with your decision and I hope it's nothing.

 

Thanks for the info.

We have decided to hold off. I did some research as did my parents (who are doctors and very sceptical of too many tests) and there seems to be quite a bit of literature questioning the benefits of routine VCUGs.

I found one really good link for parents so others can check it out if they have questions. It is by Thomas Newman a professor of pediatrics and epidemiology of UCSF.

http://itsa.ucsf.edu/~newman/Imaging...ts_13Aug02.doc

 

I have daughters with renal reflux and we have done many VCUGs at all different ages. I too would wait with only 1 UTI. I also second the opinion that if you decide to have one done, please go somehwere with a good peds department. We travel a little over 2 hours to a good children's hospital. Most local hospitals can/will do them, but don't do them often on children and it can be a disaster. We did opt for light "awake" sedative. She was awake and coherant, but does not remember it. If you search my name and VCUG, you will find a lot of talk about VCUGs and renal reflux.

Hope your boy gets better.