the relationship between vesicoureteral reflux and recurrent urinary tract infection in children in kurdistan region, iraq

Background: recurrent urinary tract infection (uti) is a common problem in pediatric age group. vesicoureteral reflux (vur) is a common cause for recurrent uti. objectives: this study was conducted to determine the prevalence of vur in children who presented with recurrent utis and to assess the effect of endoscopic treatment in patients with grade iii-v vur. methods: this was a prospective study recruiting 1232 patients who presented with recurrent uti during april 2008 and january 2012. we used voiding cystourethrogram to diagnose vur, and treated grades iii-v vur by bulking agent. one to 2 sessions were performed and the participants were followed-up postoperatively at first, second, third, and 12th months postoperatively. results: vur was found in 437 (35.5%) of the patients. amongst those, 197 (16%) patients were diagnosed with vur grade i and ii. additionally, 240 (19.5%) cases were diagnosed with vur iii-v. two sessions were required to correct the reflux in all patients with grade iii. the success rate of correction of grade iv was 79% after the second session. the success rate was 71% in grade v. new contralateral reflux with low grade (i and ii) de novo vur was found in 28/240 (11.7%) cases. after successful correction of vur, uti occurred in 12/203 (5.9%) of the patients. conclusions: vur was common in children with recurrent uti with a good prognosis after endoscopic correction. further study is needed to follow-up the participants who did not respond to treatment.