Sonographic temporary nephromegaly in children during their first febrile urinary tract infection is a significant prognostic factor for recurrent infection

Abstract

Abstract There are currently no available data on the relationship between sonographic temporary nephromegaly in children during their first febrile urinary tract infection (fUTI) and recurrent fUTI. For this analysis, a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 343 children who underwent renal ultrasound during their first fUTI was conducted between 2013 and 2020. Sonographic temporary nephromegaly was defined as increased renal length during the initial fUTI, followed by normal renal length after antibiotic treatment. Compared with children without sonographic temporary nephromegaly (n = 307), the duration of fever and intravenous antibiotics was significantly longer, and C-reactive protein, creatinine, and the proportion of children who had recurrent fUTI were significantly higher, in those with sonographic temporary nephromegaly (n = 36). In an additional analysis of 100 patients who received voiding cystourethrography, a logistic regression model confirmed that the odds of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) were significantly higher in children with temporary nephromegaly or those who experienced fUTI recurrence. In nine out of 16 children with VUR who had temporary nephromegaly, the reason for receiving voiding cystourethrography was recurrent fUTI. Our results suggest that sonographic temporary nephromegaly during an initial fUTI is predictive for recurrence and VUR, and that in children with temporary nephromegaly, VUR may be detectable before fUTI recurrence.

Keywords

• Children
• Febrile urinary tract infection
• Recurrent infection
• Renal ultrasonography
• Temporary nephromegaly
• Vesicoureteral reflux