title: Predictive risk factors in childhood urinary tract infection, vesicoureteral reflux, and renal scarring management.
abstract: Approaches to the management of children with urinary tract infection (UTI), vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and renal scars have been challenged and have become controversial over the past decade. It is difficult to determine when, how, and which patients will benefit from the diagnosis and management of this condition. Therefore, the issues of diagnostic imaging, observation, follow-up, and intervention tend to be decided more on a case-by-case basis, rather than by using an algorithm. Over the past few years, there have been advances in the identification of risk factors that predispose patients with UTI to present with VUR, to develop recurrent UTIs and renal scars, to have deteriorating renal function, to show VUR improvement and/or spontaneous resolution, and to be candidates for and benefit from early surgical intervention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece stylroup@yahoo.gr.
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roupakias
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Xenophon
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sinopidis
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Ageliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karatza
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varvarigou
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000209:etiology*
keywords: children; management; renal scars; urinary tract infection; vesicoureteral reflux