recommended imaging schedule for children 3 years or older
Last reviewed 01/2018
Test | Responds well to treatment within 48 hours | Atypical UTI* | Recurrent UTI* |
Ultrasound during the acute infection | No | Yes**, *** | No |
Ultrasound within 6 weeks | No | No | Yes ** |
DMSA 4-6 months following the acute infection | No | No | Yes |
MCUG | No | No** | No |
*
- atypical UTI includes:
- seriously ill
- poor urine flow
- abdominal or bladder mass
- raised creatinine
- septicaemia
- failure to respond to treatment with suitable antibiotics within 48 hours
- infection with non-E. coli organisms
- recurrent UTI:
- two or more episodes of UTI with acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection, or
- one episode of UTI with acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection plus one or more episode of UTI with cystitis/lower urinary tract infection, or
- three or more episodes of UTI with cystitis/lower urinary tract infection.
** ultrasound in toilet-trained children should be performed with a full bladder with an estimate of bladder volume before and after micturition
*** in a child with a non-E. coli-UTI, responding well to antibiotics and with no other features of atypical infection, the ultrasound can be requested on a non-urgent basis to take place within 6 weeks
Reference: