Ultrasound of Kidneys & Bladder
The first, painless look at the kidneys, ureters and bladder.
What is Ultrasound of Kidneys & Bladder?
A painless scan using sound waves to look at the kidneys, the drainage system and the bladder, including how much urine remains after the child passes urine. It is the starting point for almost every urinary problem in childhood.
- Normal
Why It Is Asked For
This test is requested only when the answer would change what we do next.
- A swollen kidney seen on a pregnancy scan
- Urinary tract infection, particularly with fever
- Tummy or flank pain, or a lump felt in the tummy
- Following up a known kidney or bladder condition
Before the Day
- For bladder views the child is asked to come with a comfortably full bladder where age allows
- No fasting is needed
- In newborns the scan is usually repeated after the first 48 hours to 7 days — a scan on day one can look falsely reassuring because the baby is relatively dry
On the Day
- Warm gel and a probe on the tummy and back
- Completely painless; the child can be held or fed during it
- Usually 15 to 20 minutes
What the Results Show
- Shows swelling, stones, cysts, bladder wall thickness and residual urine
- It cannot show reflux — that needs an MCUG
- It cannot reliably find an undescended testis inside the abdomen
Is It Safe?
- No radiation, no injections, no sedation, and it can be repeated as often as needed
Common Questions
If your question is not here, send it on WhatsApp and the hospital team will answer.
Dr. Pratheep Samraj
Consultant Paediatric & Neonatal Surgeon · Palliyadi, Kanyakumari
Super-specialist surgical care for newborns, infants and children, with expertise in paediatric urology, congenital anomalies, gastro-intestinal surgery and minimally invasive surgery.
Related Pages
Nearly every childhood urinary problem starts with this scan.
It is painless, takes minutes and needs no preparation beyond a reasonably full bladder. If your child has had repeated urine infections and never had one, that is a gap worth closing.
Consultation 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM & 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM · 24-hour laboratory & pharmacy
In an emergency — green vomiting in a baby, a groin swelling that will not go back, severe tummy pain, or a newborn not passing urine or meconium — come straight to the hospital or to your nearest emergency department. Do not wait for a reply to a message.