Children with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection
A guide for families

WHAT IF MY CHILD IS FOUND TO HAVE REFLUX?

This refers to the passage of urine back up the bladder to the kidney or kidneys as illustrated in the diagram. Urine may carry infection with it and this could lead to damage of the kidneys.

It is therefore suggested that your child should receive antibiotics in a single dose every night. This is called ‘prophylaxis’. By using a very small dose it is hoped to prevent further infections occurring, whilst avoiding problems with your child becoming resistant to the antibiotics.

Please make sure that your child gets the antibiotic on a regular basis and report to the doctor if there are any problems with your child taking the medicine regularly. There is long experience of children on prophylaxis for many years and very few problems have occurred. If you do have any objections to your child receiving long term antibiotics please be frank and discuss the point with the doctor in the clinic. The following points are very important:

1. Try to avoid missing any doses.
2. Do not double up the dose if your child has a suspected urine infection.
3. Do obtain a urine culture and take it to your doctor or clinic.
4. If your child is given another antibiotic for an infection such as a sore throat, then continue the prophylactic antibiotic.

NKF Controlled Document No. 124, Children with Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection — A guide for families — What if my child is found to have reflux?, written 16 July 2004. Last reviewed 3 May 2011.

Content compiled by members of the Children’s Renal & Urology Unit, QMC Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals.

The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for information provided. The above is for guidance only. Patients are advised to seek further information from their own doctor.

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