Morning all,
Ive just had a call from my cousin in Cyprus, when she had a scan at 22 weeks they noticed her baby had enlarged kidneys but said it was quite common in boys and nothing to worry about.
Well hes 5 months now and last month had a urine infection, he was given a course on anti-biotics and that was that....or so she thought.
She took him for jabs today and they said that he will have to go into the main hospital in Nicosia (where tayla was, its an awful hosp) and will have to have a balloon inserted and dye in him to see whats going on with his kidneys....
Its this normal? I thought both the enlarged kidneys and UTIs were quite common in young babies?
Anyone have an experience of this? Thank you

Oh I don't know - I've only heard of the dye and balloon thing in adults? And hadn't heard that uti's were common in babies either - I may have just led a sheltered life

I tried a search on nhs direct but nothing - that sites gone very annoying I think! Only found this http://www.babycenter.com/0_urinary-tract-infection_10910.bc but only generic info xx

Thanks for your reply. I think she has found what it is now, Reflux nephropathy?

That can cause kidney damage - all I know . How awful in one so young though. I thought they inject dye and take x-ray - to investigate - the balloon thing has me puzzled xx

I know im very confused too! The doc didnt speak very good english and didnt explain much to her I guess she will have to wait until the hosp appointment...

I don't get the balloon thing either. I thought it would just be a contrast study with the dye. Well that's what we would do with animals but I'm sure human medicine is much more advanced anyway. Maybe it was a communication error? Would a balloon thing not go into something like the bladder? Maybe that's what they are doing?

X

^ and I'd have thought the balloon is to widen tubes and is therefore a treatment, not an investigation?! Also, if the trouble is the urine reflux (back to kidneys) then why would they be widening the tubes in the first place... unless it's part of some kind of op to mend the valves? Let us know how she gets on xx

They thought that Amelia would have this problem as when I had my 20 week scan they found that she had mild renal dialation, which can indicate a problem with reflux. Could it be that they believe the enlargement of the kidney is due to a blockage or narrowing of the tubes? If that's the case that would explain the little balloon. Millwall Rose (Meg) on AB is the font of all knowledge re kindney problems due to both her OH and daughter having problems, maybe send her a PM? xxx

Thanks Lisa, i dont really understand it all and neither does my cousin. His appointment is on the 1st dec so i will update then. The only thing the doc mentioned about the balloon is that she said make sure you come with someone, not just urself as it will take two of you to hold the baby down while we insert the balloon?! Heaven knows x

That's a general anaestetic job surely?!! and like I say, treatment - not investigation?! x

That what i would of though too! God knows, i think my cousin just went into shock and didnt really take it in what was said as she was just expecting to just go for jabs! Hopefully is it just test, Cyprus is so backwards sometimes though and i lost of faith in there healthcare when i had Tayla!

thats sounds awful for a little baby to go through