Vesicoureteral (ves-ih-koe-yoo-REE-tur-ul) reflux is the abnormal flow of urine from your bladder back up the tubes (ureters) that connect your kidneys to your bladder. Normally, urine flows only down from your kidneys to your bladder. <\/p>\n
Vesicoureteral reflux is usually diagnosed in infants and children. The disorder increases the risk of urinary tract infections, which, if left untreated, can lead to kidney damage. <\/p>\n
Vesicoureteral reflux can be primary or secondary. Children with primary vesicoureteral reflux are born with a defect in the valve that normally prevents urine from flowing backward from the bladder into the ureters. Secondary vesicoureteral reflux is due to a urinary tract malfunction, often caused by infection. <\/p>\n
Children may outgrow primary vesicoureteral reflux. Treatment, which includes medication or surgery, aims at preventing kidney damage.<\/p>\n
Your urinary system includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. All play a role in removing waste products from your body. <\/p>\n
The kidneys, a pair of bean-shaped organs at the back of your upper abdomen, filter waste, water and electrolytes — minerals, such as sodium, calcium and potassium, that help maintain the balance of fluids in your body — from your blood. <\/p>\n
Tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys down to your bladder, where it is stored until it exits the body through another tube (the urethra) during urination. <\/p>\n
Vesicoureteral reflux can develop in two forms, primary and secondary: <\/p>\n
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As your child grows, the ureters lengthen and straighten, which may improve valve function and eventually resolve the reflux. This type of vesicoureteral reflux tends to run in families, which indicates that it may be genetic, but the exact cause of the defect is unknown.<\/li>\n
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Urinary tract infections commonly occur in people with vesicoureteral reflux. A urinary tract infection (UTI) doesn’t always cause noticeable signs and symptoms, though most people have some. <\/p>\n
These signs and symptoms can include: <\/p>\n
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A UTI may be difficult to diagnose in children, who may have only nonspecific signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms in infants with a UTI may also include: <\/p>\n
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As your child gets older, untreated vesicoureteral reflux can lead to other signs and symptoms, including: <\/p>\n
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Another indication of vesicoureteral reflux, which may be detected before birth by sonogram, is swelling of the kidneys or the urine-collecting structures of one or both kidneys (hydronephrosis) in the fetus, caused by the backup of urine into the kidneys. <\/p>\n
When to see a doctor<\/strong> <\/p>\n Contact your doctor right away if your child develops any of the signs or symptoms of a UTI, such as: <\/p>\n
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Call your doctor about fever if your child:<\/p>\n
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In addition, call your doctor immediately if your infant has the following signs or symptoms: <\/p>\n
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