Is antibiotic prophylaxis an effective treatment for children with vesicoureteral reflux?

No: Over 30 years, antibiotic prophylaxis has been recommended for children with vu reflux without firm evidence of benefit. Current consensus is: grade v reflux requires surgery (or nonsurgical deflux measure); grade ii-iv reflux needs regular follow-ups with adequate treatment for each bout of recurrent infection. Grade i reflux generally resoves spontaneously.

Depends: The debate has gone on for years. I choose to leave it in the hands of the pedi-urologist who will have to decide when any aggressive management (surgery) would be warranted. Their trend has been not to treat unless a kid has recurrent infections and then get off when possible.Prophylaxis in all cases appears to have gone the way of boom boxes.