Problems passing urine
Boys with PUV often have problems when passing urine. This can include wetting during the day or at night, having to ‘push’ to pass urine, feeling pain when weeing, weeing less often or having a poor stream of urine. However, these symptoms are common, and most young boys with these issues do not have PUV.
Reflux
PUV may cause vesicoureteric reflux (VUR). In VUR, some urine refluxes (goes back up) towards, and sometimes into, the kidneys. These children usually only need treatment if they get UTIs.
Urinary tract infections
Boys with PUV may be more likely to get urinary tract infections (UTIs) – when bacteria (germs) get into the urine and cause an infection, usually in the bladder. Babies and children with UTIs may become irritable, have a fever, have pain on weeing, feel sick or be sick, or have diarrhoea.
Occasionally the bacteria that cause UTI travel all the way up to the kidneys, where they cause a more serious infection and illness – this is called pyelonephritis. Without treatment, this can cause damage to the kidneys.
UTIs are treated with medicines called antibiotics, which kill the germs. Some boys with PUV get UTIs that keep coming back, even after treatment – these are called recurrent UTIs.
Seek medical advice if you think your child has a UTI.
Infection in the blood
In some boys with PUV, a UTI can lead to a more serious infection in their blood. This is called septicaemia. Children with septicaemia are admitted to hospital for a few days, and treated with intravenous (IV) antibiotic medicines, which are given with a needle.
Breathing difficulties
Occasionally, PUV can stop the lungs from fully developing because they restrict the amount of amniotic fluid in the womb. These babies need extra support to help them breathe while their lungs get better. In extreme and rare cases, the lungs do not develop enough for the support to help, and the baby dies before, or shortly after birth.