Vesico-Ureteric Reflux

Vesicoureteral reflux is the abnormal flow of urine from your bladder back up the tubes that connect your kidneys to your bladder. Normally, urine flows from your kidneys through the ureters down to your bladder. It’s not supposed to flow back up.

Symptoms: –

  • A strong, persistent urge to urinate
  • A burning sensation when urinating
  • The need to pass small amounts of urine frequently
  • Cloudy urine
  • Fever
  • Pain in your side (flank) or abdomen
  • An unexplained fever
  • Lack of appetite
  • Irritability
  • Bed-wetting
  • Constipation or loss of control over bowel movements
  • High blood pressure
  • Protein in urine

Causes: –

  1. Primary vesicoureteral reflux: –

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. Primary vesicoureteral reflux is the more common type.

As your child grows, the ureters lengthen and straighten, which may improve valve function and eventually correct 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.

  1. Secondary vesicoureteral reflux: –

The cause of this form of reflux is most often from failure of the bladder to empty properly, either due to a blockage or failure of the bladder muscle or damage to the nerves that control normal bladder emptying.

Risk: –

  • Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction: –

Children with BBD hold their urine and stool and experience recurrent urinary tract infections, which can contribute to vesicoureteral reflux.

  • Race: –

White children appear to have a higher risk of vesicoureteral reflux.

  • Sex: –

Generally, girls have a much higher risk of having this condition than boys do. The exception is for vesicoureteral reflux that’s present at birth, which is more common in boys.

  • Age: –

Infants and children up to age 2 are more likely to have vesicoureteral reflux than older children are.

  • Family History: –

Primary vesicoureteral reflux tends to run in families. Children whose parents had the condition are at higher risk of developing it. Siblings of children who have the condition also are at higher risk, so your doctor may recommend screening for siblings of a child with primary vesicoureteral reflux.

Complications: –

  • Kidney (renal) scarring
  • High blood pressure
  • Kidney failure