Causes of hydronephrosis in infants

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Neonatal hydronephrosis is a condition in which urine cannot be eliminated, causing the vessels in the kidneys to become blocked and the kidneys to swell. Urethral stricture is thought to be the main cause of this condition.

1. Causes of hydronephrosis in children

There are many causes of hydronephrosis in infants, in which ureteral stricture is the main cause. This is a congenital pathology formed from the fetal stage with many abnormalities in the urinary system, including:
Urethral hypoplasia leading to abnormal peristalsis through the junction of the kidney and ureter. There is no symmetry of the muscle wall that inhibits ureteral peristalsis for urine out of the kidney. The shape of the ureter is changed because the ureter plugs into the renal pelvis too high, which interferes with the passage of urine from the kidney down to the ureter. The abnormality of the blood vessels in the lower poles of the kidney causes blockage of the ureters, preventing the process of bringing urine from the upper renal pelvis down. The kidneys are excessively rotated and mobile, causing episodic obstruction. Narrow junction of renal pelvis and ureter.

The above abnormalities make the process of bringing urine from the renal pelvis down to the bladder to stagnate, this prolonged situation will cause the kidneys to dilate, causing hydronephrosis in infants.
Besides congenital causes, the disease can also appear due to a number of other causes such as:
Kidney stones are too large to block the ureters and cause the kidneys to swell. There are tumors, cysts compressing the ureter, causing obstruction. Scarring or blood clots in the ureters cause the passage of urine to narrow.

2. Some symptoms of hydronephrosis in children

When the kidneys hold water, children often have some of the following symptoms:
Pain and crying when urinating Pain in the lower abdomen, the child cries when being squeezed or pressed on the lower abdomen Urinating more than usual Appears nausea, vomiting, fever Kidney retention in children, if not treated promptly, can lead to urinary tract infections. At that time, the child will have the following symptoms:
Back pain Fever Cloudy urine Crying or discomfort when urinating due to pain

3. Diagnosing hydronephrosis in infants

Neonatal hydronephrosis can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after the baby is born.
3.1 Prenatal diagnosis The disease is detected by ultrasound during pregnancy. During an ultrasound, your doctor will notice abnormalities in the size of your kidneys, the condition of your amniotic fluid, and whether your kidneys are fluid. If there are any suspicious signs, the doctor will check other factors and monitor the mother's health throughout the pregnancy.
3.2 Diagnosis of hydronephrosis after birth After the baby is born, the doctor will carry out other methods to accurately diagnose the condition. Diagnostic methods include:
Renal ultrasonography (RUS): This method to redefine the renal system as well as fluid retention. Urethral and bladder X-ray (VCUG): This is a method used to rule out vesicoureteral reflux. If there is no reflux, the doctor will order a CT scan of the ureter to evaluate kidney function, determine the degree of obstruction in the ureter and the degree of hydronephrosis in the newborn. Renal nuclear tomography: The doctor does this by injecting a small amount of radioisotope into the child's blood, comparing the function of the two kidneys and determining the severity of the disease. And some other basic blood tests.

4. How to treat hydronephrosis in children

Treatment of hydronephrosis in infants depends on the stage and cause of the disease. The basic methods include the following methods:
Monitoring and drug treatment: In mild and moderate cases, the doctor will regularly monitor the kidney system, give the baby low-dose antibiotics to prevent prevent urinary tract infections. Surgical treatment of hydronephrosis: This method is indicated for severe cases. If the child has hydronephrosis due to kidney stones, laparoscopic surgery will be performed to remove the stones. In addition, one of the most popular surgical methods today is surgery by endoscopic retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery of the renal pelvis and ureter. Hydronephrosis in infants can cause many dangerous complications if not treated promptly. So, quickly take your child to see a doctor as soon as he notices unusual signs. In particular, children in the period from 6 months to 3 years are still very susceptible to respiratory problems, respiratory infections, skin diseases and gastrointestinal infections... parents need Special attention is paid to the care and provision of adequate nutrition for children. The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children. With a system of facilities, modern medical equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread, Vinmec will bring satisfaction to customers. and is highly appreciated by industry experts with:
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