UTI in Babies

[PGS]

My daughter is going to be 9 months in few days and has been diagnosed with Urine Infection 3 times in the last 2 months. As much as we know that we follow very strict hygiene for her, I am a bit worried about what is causing this exactly.


Cutting the long story short, after a series of check ups by our Pediatrician, we recently had a checkup with a Pediatric Nephrologist and he ordered a MCU and a DMSA Scan for her. I understand that these are necessary to rule out the possibility of a reflux and to know whether or not there is scarring in the kidney and I am well informed about the details of this. MCU can only be done about 3-4 weeks after the recent infection and a DMSA can only be done after about 3 months, what I am really concerned about is the actual experience of going through this. The doctor has put my daughter on a mild dose antibiotic (once everyday) until we go for the test and according to him we can do either of the two first of course a DMSA would require a wait of 3 months. I am worried coz besides the pain, this involves radiation and is invasive. As per the doctor this is really important for my baby and I understand this but it would be great if any of you can share your experiences, if any, with me. Is there anything we should be prepared for? Any hospital/clinic that is recommended for this? Your advice and help is greatly appreciated!

 

[KhairinElektra]

Hi Mommy,my 1 yo boy has dilated kidneys both left & right and when through both MCU & DMCA when he was only 3 mths old.It was detected during my pre-natal check up.When he's born,my gynae refer to Nephrologist at KKH.Both tests were good as there is no reflux & kidneys are functioning well.The test was fast but if the baby is not cooperative, it will be very heartbreaking to see him cry.The doctor told me that some cases the dilated kidneys will just go away when he got older.Lucky mine got better and dilatation reduced.He is not on antibiotics as he did not suffered from any UTI since born.The doctor could not really explain to me why this kind of thing happen but don worry cos in some cases it will go off as they got older.My boy's kidney is still slightly dilated on one side.Now my boy is 1 yo and he still need to go for ultrasound every 6 mths to check on his kidneys to ensure that it does not get dilated again.I know how you feel cos I feel that before.But don worry so much and go for the test and pray that nothing will happen to your girl.

 

[PGS]

Hey, thank you so much for your reply! I know how you must have felt... but I am happy that your boy is recovering with age. I cant stop thinking about how much my baby will cry. More than that I am worried about the radiation that she will be exposed to during these tests and the antibiotics she will have to take until then. Anyways, it if is necessary we can only pray and hope that she will be alright. We will have to do whatever is best for her. How do you recommend KKH Hospital? We saw Dr. Gong at Gleneagles Kinder Clinic but am thinking to take a second opinion? Not sure if that is necessary but am quite worried and unable to decide whether to do an MCU first or wait for 3 months and do a DMSA (which according to the doctor has lower level of radiation as compared to an MCU).

 

[hameas]

Hi, my son had UTI when he was about 14 days old n was hospitalized for 2 weeks. He was a preterm baby. That was about 5 months ago. Since then, he had undergone a kidney ultrasound scan and is still on cephalaxin antibiotics daily. He did his DMSA scan just 2 days ago at kkh. Basically what they did to him was to inject radioactive iodine isotope intravenously and abt an hr after that the scan was performed on him. Since he was asleep at the time of the scan, he didn't have to he sedated. The only time he cried was when they had to put a plaque on his hand to prepare for the injection. Other then that, the entire procedure was brisk and uneventful. I was hesitant to let him go thru this but we just needed to be sure that the UTI did not have any adverse effect on him and tt his kidneys r ok. We will be seeing the doc next week to discuss the results of the scan.

 

[KhairinElektra]

i went to see TMC PD as recommanded by my PD which is also from TMC.Apparently,the PD wasn't so good & I went to KKH for second opinion.The lady doc was very helpful & explain to me in detail.She sees all the children with the same problem.My boy went for MCU (to check for reflux) then DMSA (to check on the function of the kidneys).Of course,there will be radiation for both but my doc ensure me that it will not effect my boy in any ways.I was also hesitating to let him go through the test cos he was so small & fragile.Hope that both of your babies will go through this well..

 

[PGS]

Hi, my son had UTI when he was about 14 days old n was hospitalized for 2 weeks. He was a preterm baby. That was about 5 months ago. Since then, he had undergone a kidney ultrasound scan and is still on cephalaxin antibiotics daily. He did his DMSA scan just 2 days ago at kkh. Basically what they did to him was to inject radioactive iodine isotope intravenously and abt an hr after that the scan was performed on him. Since he was asleep at the time of the scan, he didn't have to he sedated. The only time he cried was when they had to put a plaque on his hand to prepare for the injection. Other then that, the entire procedure was brisk and uneventful. I was hesitant to let him go thru this but we just needed to be sure that the UTI did not have any adverse effect on him and tt his kidneys r ok. We will be seeing the doc next week to discuss the results of the scan.

Hi, so did your doctor give you an option to an MCU or a DMSA first? Our doctor gave us an option to either go for an MCU (which will be in 3-4 weeks after the recent infection) and check whether there is a reflux or not. If there is no reflux he said he will close the case there. And if there is any reflux then he will advice to a DMSA after two months. However, if we do choose to wait for going straight to a DMSA which will check for scarring in the kidneys, if there is no scarring he said it means there is no reflux and that it means we dont have to do an MCU.

I am quite lost at the moment, as to which way should I opt for? Who is your doctor at the KKH hospital? I really want a second opinion.

 

[PGS]

i went to see TMC PD as recommanded by my PD which is also from TMC.Apparently,the PD wasn't so good & I went to KKH for second opinion.The lady doc was very helpful & explain to me in detail.She sees all the children with the same problem.My boy went for MCU (to check for reflux) then DMSA (to check on the function of the kidneys).Of course,there will be radiation for both but my doc ensure me that it will not effect my boy in any ways.I was also hesitating to let him go through the test cos he was so small & fragile.Hope that both of your babies will go through this well..

Hi, who is your doctor at the KKH Hospital? As you can see my post above, our doctor gave us an option to either go for an MCU (which will be in 3-4 weeks after the recent infection) and check whether there is a reflux or not. If there is no reflux he said he will close the case there. And if there is any reflux then he will advice to a DMSA after two months. However, if we do choose to wait for going straight to a DMSA which will check for scarring in the kidneys, if there is no scarring he said it means there is no reflux and that it means we dont have to do an MCU.

Although, I have all the information, I am not sure what to do and therefore need a second opinion.

 

[KhairinElektra]

Dr Indra Ganesan from Nephrology Dept.She suggested me to go MCU first if no reflux then we go DMSA.She is a specialist doctor.

 

[hameas]

We didn't hv a specific doc. A consultant at the kk ward where he was warded instructed the DMSA scan. We were not presented with an option.

 

[hameas]

Ask if mcu is really nec, otherwise for me DMSA scan will do.

 

[hameas]

Just an update...
My son has to go thru mcu this week as the DMSA scan showed a little scarring on his left kidney.However the good news is both kidney functions normally. The doc advised on mcu to find out if the scarring is due to reflux or the UTI he had 6 mths ago. If no reflux than prob he'll b discharged.
I find going thru this website help alleviate my fears n concerns abt the procedure.

http://www.kidshealth.org.nz/index.php/ps_pagename/contentpage/pi_id/251

The procedure may b invasive but it's better to find out the root of the prob now than later...

 

[PGS]

Just an update...
My son has to go thru mcu this week as the DMSA scan showed a little scarring on his left kidney.However the good news is both kidney functions normally. The doc advised on mcu to find out if the scarring is due to reflux or the UTI he had 6 mths ago. If no reflux than prob he'll b discharged.
I find going thru this website help alleviate my fears n concerns abt the procedure.

MCU (micturating cysto-urethrogram) | Kidshealth

The procedure may b invasive but it's better to find out the root of the prob now than later...

Hi,

Thanks for this update! We are also advised to do an MCU first to know about the reflux. If there is no reflux then our doctor says DMSA will not be required. Doing that early next month, my daughter is on preventive antibiotics until then... Hopefully, all this ends for all of us with this test and we know that our babies are doing just fine. I know that this test will be painful/uncomfortable, will make her cry for 15-20 mins or may be more... but also hope that she will be alright and we will forget about this episode very soon!

All the best to you and your family!