Vesicoureteral reflux vs Urinary tract infection
How to tell Vesicoureteral reflux and Urinary tract infection apart when a board question makes them look alike.
VUR is an anatomic reflux risk for recurrent febrile UTIs; UTI is the infection episode itself.
Side by side
Vesicoureteral reflux is retrograde urine flow from bladder to ureters/kidneys, causing recurrent febrile UTIs and renal scarring risk.
UTI is infection of urinary tract with dysuria, frequency, fever, pyuria, bacteriuria, or positive culture depending age.
Vesicoureteral reflux is retrograde urine flow from bladder to ureters/kidneys, causing recurrent febrile UTIs and renal scarring risk.
UTI is infection of urinary tract with dysuria, frequency, fever, pyuria, bacteriuria, or positive culture depending age.
The repair move
Before naming the answer, force the stem through the separator: VUR is an anatomic reflux risk for recurrent febrile UTIs; UTI is the infection episode itself.
Try a free question
CoreA 4-month-old girl has had THREE separate episodes of febrile urinary tract infection in the past 2 months. Urinalysis shows pyuria and bacteriuria with E. coli grown on culture. After treatment of the current UTI, voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) shows retrograde flow of contrast from the bladder up the right ureter to the renal pelvis. Which condition is causing recurrent UTIs?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is retrograde urine flow from bladder to ureters/kidneys, due to anatomic abnormality of the ureterovesical junction. Predisposes to recurrent febrile UTIs and renal scarring (reflux nephropathy). Diagnosed with VCUG. Graded I-V: I (reflux only into ureter) to V (severe with marked dilation and tortuosity). Management: prophylactic antibiotics for low-grade or surgical reimplantation for high-grade.
Why the other choices are tempting
- B. Polycystic kidney disease has cystic kidneys on imaging.
- C. Posterior urethral valves cause obstructive uropathy in male infants with bladder outlet obstruction.
- D. Horseshoe kidney is fused lower poles; rarely causes recurrent UTI alone.
- E. Urinary tract obstruction shows hydronephrosis without reflux pattern.
Flashcards
Tap a card to flip it.
What clue supports Vesicoureteral reflux?
Choose Vesicoureteral reflux when the stem gives this pattern: Vesicoureteral reflux is retrograde urine flow from bladder to ureters/kidneys, causing recurrent febrile UTIs and renal scarring risk.
What clue supports Urinary tract infection?
Choose Urinary tract infection when the stem gives this contrasting pattern: UTI is infection of urinary tract with dysuria, frequency, fever, pyuria, bacteriuria, or positive culture depending age.
Quick answers
What is the fastest way to tell Vesicoureteral reflux from Urinary tract infection?
VUR is an anatomic reflux risk for recurrent febrile UTIs; UTI is the infection episode itself.
What is the key clue for Vesicoureteral reflux?
Vesicoureteral reflux is retrograde urine flow from bladder to ureters/kidneys, causing recurrent febrile UTIs and renal scarring risk.
What is the key clue for Urinary tract infection?
UTI is infection of urinary tract with dysuria, frequency, fever, pyuria, bacteriuria, or positive culture depending age.