Dear Kat,
If a male is less than one year of age and has a urinary tract infection, then there is an 18% chance that he will have another infection. this has occurred with your son. It was standard care to obtain an ultrasound of the kidneys and voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). Often these studies detect underlying abnormalities (posterior urethral valves, vesicoureteral reflux, ureteropelvic junction obstruction) that predispose to infection.
Your sons initial studies did not reveal a treatable abnormality. Consideration for prophylactic antibiotics should be entertained if the infections prove frequent (two or more recurrent infections over a six month period). Reevaluation to look for structural abnormalities should be performed based on the clinical course. Sometimes older children are taken off antibiotics if their recurrent infections are totally asymptomatic.
This information is provided for general medical information purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available through our department at the Henry Ford Hospital and its suburban locations. (I-800-653-6568).
Sincerely;
HFHS M.D.-CK
* Keyword: pediatric urinary tract infection