I want to know what other alternative is there besides vcug ?

[pewee]

i have a 4 year old daughter,my daughter has had about 5 uti in one year.the doctor always gives her antibiotics but want us to take her for a vcug,i was reading on the internet how many people mentioned vcug is traumatizing for the child and the parent.my daughter never complaints about pain or urinates frequently when the doctor says SHE HAS A URINARY TRACT INFECTION.everytime we take my daughter to the doctor,the doctor wants a urine test done and every time the doctors says it's clear when examining at doctor's office,then the doctors sends the urine for culturing and says that she does have urinary tract infection.when the doctor's says that SHE HAS NO INFECTION my daughter would actually tell me it hurt's down there.my daughter has had two ultrasounds for her kidney's one tube is SLIGHTLY enlarged on one test but in the most recent one i believe it might be normal.there have been two occasion's that my daughter underwear has been stained by some some fluid from her frontal area.i am very worried about my daughter,the thing that worries me the most is that she was perfectly fine for her first three years of her life,no infection what so ever.i want to know what other alternative's do i have besides a vcug? can my daughter have this infection's due to not drinking enough water?my daughter never has accident's during day time,she doesn't need diapers.at night time she still uses them.can wearing diapers have anything to do with uti?not so long ago she got fever and my daughter said she was hurting like if her bones were broken,doctor said it might be uti.that has only happened once.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

The options to diagnosing vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) would either be a VCUG or radionuclide cystogram (RNC).  All children under the age of seven with a first UTI should, after treatment of the acute infection, undergo a VCUG or RNC to detect the presence and severity of VUR. Classification of reflux and evaluation of lower tract anatomy are difficult with RNC - thus if there is a positive RNC, a VCUG needs to be performed.

Ultrasonography is also performed to see if any other anatomic abnormalities are present.

Based on these recommendations, it would seem that the VCUG would be the most comprehensive test.  Although there are other causes of the infection, the one that needs to be evaluated for is VUR and thus, I would suggest discussing this recommendation with your personal urologist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[concernedforkids]

A related discussion, VCUG was started.