OverviewVesicoureteral (ves-ih-koe-yoo-REE-tur-ul) reflux is the abnormal flow of urine from your bladder back up the tubes (ureters) that connect your kidneys to your bladder. Normally, urine flows from your kidneys through the ureters down to your bladder. It's not supposed to flow back up. Show Vesicoureteral reflux is usually diagnosed in infants and children. The disorder increases the risk of urinary tract infections, which, if left untreated, can lead to kidney damage. Children may outgrow primary vesicoureteral reflux. Treatment, which includes medication or surgery, aims at preventing kidney damage. Types
SymptomsUrinary tract infections commonly occur in people with vesicoureteral reflux. A urinary tract infection (UTI) doesn't always cause noticeable signs and symptoms, though most people have some. These signs and symptoms can include:
A UTI may be difficult to diagnose in children, who may have only nonspecific signs and symptoms. Signs and symptoms in infants with a UTI may also include:
As your child gets older, untreated vesicoureteral reflux can lead to:
Another indication of vesicoureteral reflux, which may be detected before birth by sonogram, is swelling of the kidneys or the urine-collecting structures of one or both kidneys (hydronephrosis) in the fetus, caused by the backup of urine into the kidneys. When to see a doctorContact your doctor right away if your child develops any of the signs or symptoms of a UTI, such as:
Call your doctor about fever if your child:
CausesYour urinary system includes your kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. All play a role in removing waste products from your body via urine. Tubes called ureters carry urine from your kidneys down to your bladder, where it is stored until it exits the body through another tube (the urethra) during urination. Vesicoureteral reflux can develop in two types, primary and secondary:
Risk factorsRisk factors for vesicoureteral reflux include:
ComplicationsKidney damage is the primary concern with vesicoureteral reflux. The more severe the reflux, the more serious the complications are likely to be. Complications may include:
Feb. 11, 2022 What puts pressure on the urethra?Enlarged prostate gland: This can press on the urethra. Tumors: Growths from ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, bladder cancer, or prostate cancer may also compress the urethra. This pressure can obstruct the urethra and, in severe cases, possibly lead to damage to both kidneys caused by urine backing up (hydronephrosis).
What part of the urethra controls the urination?The internal urethral sphincter regulates involuntary control of urine flow from the bladder to the urethra, and the external urethral sphincter provides voluntary control of urine flow from the bladder to the urethra.
How does the urethra affect the urinary system?Urethra: This tube carries urine from your bladder out of your body. It ends in an opening to the outside of your body in the penis (in men) or in front of the vagina (in women).
What muscles causes the urethra to contract and relax?The primary function of the detrusor muscle is to contract during urination to push the urine out of the bladder and into the urethra. The detrusor muscle will relax to allow the storage of urine in the urinary bladder.
What can put pressure on the bladder?What causes bladder pressure?. a defect in the lining of the bladder.. an autoimmune reaction.. genetics.. infection.. allergies.. What is the structure of urethra?The male urethra is a narrow fibromuscular tube that conducts urine and semen from the bladder and ejaculatory ducts, respectively, to the exterior of the body (see the image below). Although the male urethra is a single structure, it is composed of a heterogeneous series of segments: prostatic, membranous, and spongy.
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