Find out which children are at risk for urinary reflux
Gender, race, and age are three factors that may matter
After a diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), also known as urinary reflux, you may wonder, “Why my child?” Like most medical conditions, VUR is more common in some groups than others.
Girls have a greater risk of developing VUR than boys
In general, girls are about twice as likely to develop urinary reflux because girls tend to have more frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs). Repeated UTIs may cause the ureters to swell, resulting in a urinary blockage. The blockage can cause the urine to back up. Boys, on the other hand, are more likely to have primary VUR, which is VUR that’s caused by a slight defect present before the child is born.
If your child is fair skinned, he or she is at greater risk of having VUR
Light skinned children are at a significantly greater risk for VUR and usually have a higher grade of VUR with more risk for kidney damage (scarring).1,2
Children under two years old have a greater risk
Because infants and toddlers up to 2 years old have a higher risk for kidney scarring, your doctor may want to test your child for VUR after his or her first UTI with fever.
VUR runs in families
If you or your spouse had VUR, it’s possible that your child will too.
