Why did my 7-month-old get urine infection?

Q: My seven months old son has been diagnosed by urinary tract infection after urine culture test. He was administered Norfloxacin (antibiotic) for about two weeks. Post treatment we were asked to get his urine routine and a U/S scan done. During the scan, he was diagnosed with a hypotrophic kidney. How dangerous is this and how can it be treated?

A:The common cause of urine infection in childhood is urinary reflux, where urine flows back into the urethra and kidneys causing infection and scarring. You should get your son seen by a nephrologist or preferably by a pediatric nephrologist. A DMSA scan of kidneys is required to assess function and structure of kidneys. He will require other tests as well.