Urinary Tract Infections - Medical Tests

Hi
Thought I'd give some reassurance to parents out there whose kids are having recurrent UTI's and are awaiting medical tests.

My son had about 4 UTI's in his first year alone - his first was when he was just 3 weeks old. He was given 3 months of prophalyctic antibiotics and then we went for 3 tests to check his kidneys - he had a DMSA, an ultrasound and a procedure where they put die up into his urethra.

I was so so worried about these tests being done to him at just 4 months old but I have to say he coped brilliantly! I was able to touch him throughout and play with him and the staff were really understanding.

The ultrasound was straight forward and fast so he barely complained. They just checked his kidneys weren't damaged. The DMSA involved a canula being put into his arm, a radioactive die (I was reassured it was less radioactive than other things we are exposed to in life) was put into the canula and then we were sent away for a few hours. When we came back for the scan, he was placed on a scaning machine that slowly went round his body building up an image. It did take about 30minutes though.

The test my son didn't like was the die into the urethra - he did cry when they inserted the catheta as he was too young for any local anaesthetic. However, it was quite quick after they did that bit and they just used a scanner to check that there wasn't any reflux back into the kidneys.

He had the same tests done again when he was about 2 and again he coped extremely well. My top tip was taking a portable DVD with his favourite film and I let him watch it whilst the DMSA scan was done (as 30minutes in the scanner is a long time).

The tests came back fine both times and his UTI's stopped when he was just over 2. We think they may have been because he drank very little (due to severe gastro reflux) and the UTI's often followed illnesses during which he'd refuse fluids. I'd get so desperate that i'd have to resort to syringing a few ml's of water at a time into his mouth, all day long!

Anyway, i hope this has reassured any parents out there who have just been told their child needs these 3 tests - it will honestly not be as bad as you are thinking.

Kitty

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