This article gives a definition of Vesicoureteral (Kidney Reflux), what causes it, and what it means if your child has this condition. It discusses the kinds of reflux, and how they can be dangerous.
Keywords: Vesicoureteral Reflux, VUR, Kidney Reflux, UTI, Primary reflux, Secondary reflux, Kidney Infection
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What is Vesicoureteral Reflux?
When Lizzie was 6 weeks old, she was taken by ambulance to the nearest Children's Hospital when her fever spiked to 103. In what seemed like a moment, our lives were changed. After almost a week in the hospital, she was diagnosed with bilateral gradeV Vesicoureteral Reflux. Our first question was…. What in the world is vesicoureteral reflux, and what does it mean?
Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR) is also known as kidney reflux, or bladder reflux. There are two kinds of reflux, primary and secondary. Primary VUR affects 90% of the children diagnosed with reflux. In Primary VUR, children are born with a defect in the ureterovesical junction. It basically means that there is a valve where the ureter enters the bladder, and that valve is not doing its job. Because of this defect, there is an abnormal flow of urine from the bladder back into the kidneys, where it can cause damage. Secondary VUR has the same abnormal flow of urine, but instead of being caused by a defect in the UVJ valve, it is caused secondary to an underlying condition such as nuerogenic bladder, immunity disorder, or other condition.
Reflux by itself is not dangerous. The danger comes when the urine becomes infected with a bacteria. When a child with reflux developes a urinary tract infection (UTI), the infected bacteria moves upward into the kidneys causing pyelonephritis (kidney infection). Infection in the kidneys can cause renal scarring, and damage to the kidneys, which can eventually lead to renal failure if not treated.
Reflux can effect only one kidney or both. If only one kidney is affected, it is termed unilateral, when both are infected it is bilateral. In some cases, like our daughter's, there can be duplicated ureters (or extra ureters). In these cases, 1 or all of the ureters can be affected, and each ureter is given a grade. These grades are based on how severely each individual ureter is affected.
Next... How Reflux is graded.
Vesicoureteral Reflux, Symptoms of Reflux, Grades of Reflux, Testing for Reflux, Treatment for Reflux
The information on this web site should not be taken as medical advice, and you should contact your health care provider with any questions regarding your child's condition/health. The information on this site comes from the personal experience and opinions of parents, and does not come from doctors or medical experts, and should be taken as such.