VesicoureteralReflux in Babieswith Myelomeningocele

Reflux was present at birth in 24 per cent of 100 babies with meningomyelocele, indicating a marked tendency toward spontaneous improvement in infancy. Reflux starts in some children after birth but the number is too small to draw definite conclusions on the cause of this onset. Of the children with myelomeningocele 16 per cent had asymptomatic infection of the urine on 1 occasion only and 33 per cent had recurrent infections. There was a greater incidence of upper tract anomalies in patients with a high level spinal lesion.