Aim: Ultrasound investigation and voiding cystouretrography (VCUG) are part of the diagnostic algorithm in children with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) with the aim of depicting any complication of the infection and underlying anomalies of the urinary tract. As the understanding of the relationship between UTI, renal scarring and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) evolves, new recommended imaging algorithms are being introduced.
Methods: 184 patients that underwent VCUG after the first or recurrent febrile UTI were included in the study. The incidence of VUR in both groups have been evaluated and compared with ultrasound findings.
Patients with VUR were divided into those with non-dilating (VUR grade I-II) and dilating (VUR grade III-V) reflux. Results: Overall VUR was diagnosed in 39/184 (21%) patients.
VUR was seen in 23/156 (15%) patients in the group of patients after the first fibrile UTI, in comparison to 16/28 (57%) patients with recurrent fibrile UTI (statistically significant difference, p < 0,0001). 8/156 (5%) patients after the first febrile UTI had dilating VUR, compared to 11/28 (39%) patients after recurrent febrile UTI (statistically significant difference, p< 0,0001). Conclusion.
In compliance with current recommendations of the American Academy of Paediatrics the results of this study have shown low incidence of VUR and dilating VUR in patients with a history of single febrile UTI. Based on the results of our study it can be concluded that VCUG is not recommended in all patiens in the age of 2-24 months but only in specifically identified cases.