5 year old boy with recurrent UTI's

[Mummato2]

Has anyone else had this experience?

I have an almost 6 year old with absolutely no history of UTI until 4 months ago when he got his first undoubted UTI - pain, urgency, low grade fever. Dr said not worried but culture the sample and a second UTI warrants further testing.

3 months go by and DS tells me it hurts to pass urine (no urgency, no pain in bladder just at the end of weeing). Took him to the same Dr, urine stick test shows blood, diagnoses UTI and starts AB and orders ultrasound.

We go home and I discover the tip of his penis is red and swollen (not circumcised) and it makes sense it isn't a UTI but we complete antibiotics. Didn't follow up with ultrasound.

Then yesterday (3.5 weeks after last incident) DS throws up during the night once, wakes up with no other symptoms except urgency and increased frequency to pee. Take him to a different Dr who says he definitely needs imaging done, starts him on a different antibiotic, suggests a pediatric urologist and circumcision.

DS wakes this morning not so urgent with peeing (but a slight increase from normal)

What would you do? I really need some mumma's to bounce off.

1) I don't believe circumcision is warranted. Especially because he doesn't have a history of UTI until recently

2) Dr said likely won't be a structural issue since those generally appear from baby BUT that VUR (reflux) needs to be excluded because of potential kidney damage if it is.

Does this sound like 3 true UTI's?

One remark made last night is the treatment so far has been poor. We cultured the sample both times (this one has been sent off as well) but neither time did the Dr contact me to advise what we are dealing with or to change to a bacteria specific antibiotic.

I am at a loss as to how many invasive exams and procedures I want to allow. I refuse the circumcision. The ultrasound is non invasive so I don't mind that BUT it won't show VUR. The test for VUR is invasive and I worry about mt DS' s emotional tolerance since he is so acutely aware of his penis and gets quite shy. Kids apparently grow out of VUR as it is.

I need some guidance please. What would you do if this were your baby?

Thanks for getting through this xxx