I have a beautiful little girl who is four years old. She has been having recurring UTI's which are getting increasingly hard to get rid of.
The first few were treated with just regular antibiotics, but in January she was found to have a Pseudomonas infection. That was treated with Cipro and she was placed on a daily dose of Macrodantin, but the Pseudomonas came back just over a month later. Again she was treated with Cipro, taken off of Macrodantin and placed on a daily dose of Septra. Again she became infected a month later. This time the infection was a Citrobacter infection. She was placed on a third round of Cipro, but this time it came back just two weeks after coming off of the Cipro. She was given a prescription for a fourth round of Cipro. Prior to taking this round of Cipro she was given three days worth of an Intra-Muscular antibiotic which we were told would kill anything.
She is on her 6th day of the Cipro, but she is showing symptoms of another UTI. We go for the umpteenth urinalysis in the morning.
We just had a Cystogram done, where we found out that she has Reflux into her right Kidney. This did not show up when they did her VCUG a few months ago. Also what has shown up both times is that her bladder is very large and shaped like an elongated number 8. We are now scheduled for another ultrasound and a surgery to hopefully correct the reflux.
Has anyone had experience with something similar? I am very concerned about the possible effects to her Kidneys from these infections. Does anyone know of what I might do to help ward off new infections? I have now become a germophobe. My daughter takes showers only now as I don't want her "sitting" in water. I still bleach my tub out nightly, she is on a schedule to go potty every two hours, she has her own potty seat again... Is there anything else I could be doing?

Also I would like to add...
We have been dealing seperately with an Endocrinologist because of her growth. She was born in the 90th percentile and over time has dropped to where she is now. She is below the 5th percentile. As the Urologist was not finding anything wrong with her kidneys at that time renal problems were ruled out, yet we were not finding anything else that could be a cause. My poor baby has been stuck with more needles in her four years than I have in all of mine...
Again, any experiece with something similar? Is there anything else that I should be asking the doctors to check that you know of?

Sorry, another addition. I was reading over some of the notes that the Urologist had made and found another bacteria called enterococcus... Familiar with this one either? Anything that I have found on the internet about it has been pretty scary...

Hi Poppy,

I have a 21 mo old DD with bilateral grade 3/4 reflux. I am new to all of this since she was diagnosed just a month ago after only one UTI. Your DD sure has been through a lot! I am not very knowledgable on this subject yet but I've found another great board that you might get some answers from. e-mail me and I'll give it to you since I don't know if it's OK to post the link here.

Aimee

I had kidney reflux at birth but noone found it till I was in my 30's. Have they checked to see if her ureter is out of place? Mine was and I wound up losing my right kidney because they never found it when I was young with all the test they did(except the cystogram and cystoscope.They tried to repair it with surgery to put my ureter in it's right place but still it was too late and I still lost my kidney within 6 months after. So please don't let them give up and just keep giving her meds. That is not gonna correct the problem if that is what it is. My left kidney also has a cyst on it that grows very little in a year but not cancerous. I wish you well. God Bless

------------------
rjwarren

[This message has been edited by rjwarren (edited 06-06-2002).]

Hi Poppy and Mark,

I took our 3 1/2 year old to see the urologist at CHOP Childrens Hospital of Phila. He is going to have his urethra opened and they said that he needed to see a gastro to. He sees one at CHOP in July. They said that his infection is cleared, Yep, he had a UTI to and that it is a good idea to see a gastro to. I don't know if this will help you but, I thought with all your sweet baby girl is going through I should tell you this.

Talked to you on the Urology board. Good luck and keep us updated.

Update to you two above who answered me. My doctor called to night and said I should see a Nephrologist and a urologist. Okay , why not. The more the merrier and I want to find out whats up. Poppy have you taken her to one of these kidney docs (Nephrologists)?
------------------
Take care ~Kim & Gary~

[This message has been edited by kim (edited 06-07-2002).]

Hi there! Sorry I was out of town...
rjwarren:
Yes, as a matter of fact, they did just find out that her right ureter is out of place. They have her scheduled for surgery on the 17th. They are going to move both of her ureters to a new position. Her urologist says that sometimes if they only work on one, that they can develop reflux in the other. Also, it looks like her right ureter has an opening that is much larger than it should be.
They are saying that this may not stop the infections, but at least we will have her kidneys protected.
She seems to be doing well right now. This is the first time in a long time that she has gone longer than a week or two without an infection!
Than you so much for the replies! I will post again after her surgery!

I thought that might be the problem. God Bless and good luck sweetie. They are fixing her early so she will be fine. I wish they would have found mine that young then I would still have both of mine.My prayers are with her.