Comparison of Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection in Children with Different Grades of Vesicoureteral Reflux

Urinary reflux is the most common urological abnormality in children. About half of the children with urinary infection have urinary reflux at the same time. Considering the importance of urinary reflux in children and contradictory results reported regarding the relationship between different grades of vesicoureteral reflux and recurrent urinary tract infection, this study was conducted with the aim of comparing recurrent urinary tract infection in children with different grades of vesicoureteral reflux.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 children with pyelonephritis and vesicoureteral reflux who refered to Amirkola Children's Hospital in 2011-2019. Reflux grades were determined by voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) or direct radionuclide cystography (DRNC). Children were followed up for 2 years and in case of clinical symptoms with positive urine culture, they were considered as recurrent urinary tract infection.

Of the 150 children studied, 126 (84%) were girls and 24 (16%) were boys with a mean age of 27.17±11.53 months. 95 people (63.3%) had once, 37 people (24.7%) twice, 8 people (5.3%) three times, and 10 people (6.7%) four times experience of recurrent urinary tract infection. The odds ratio of recurrent urinary tract infection was more than two times higher in children with grade 3 and 4 reflux involvement than in children with grade 1 and 2 reflux (OR=3.20, 95% CI=1.05-9.75, p=0.041). However, there was no significant difference in recurrent urinary tract infection in children based on age at diagnosis, gender, and whether the reflux was unilateral or bilateral.

The results of the study showed that children with moderate and severe involvement of vesicoureteral reflux experience higher recurrent urinary tract infection compared to mild involvement.