[Urinary tract infections in infants: medical management]

The risks of acute pyelonephritis in infants concern microbial invasion and parenchymal damage. There is a high rate of septicemia and of urinary malformations in children under 1 yr of age; in addition, the kidney is a growing organ with a high risk of scarring. Such parenchymal injury may lead to arterial hypertension, and renal failure when bilateral. Vesicoureteric reflux must be evaluated by ultrasound and cystogram; long-term renal scarring needs to be assessed by scintigraphy or pyelography when children are 7 yr old. Short- and long-term risks could be limited by early intravenous biantibiotherapy.