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Warning-sign checks

Prune belly syndrome: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services for severe difficulty breathing, blue or grey lips, collapse, or a child who is difficult to wake.

    These are emergency signs rather than routine features of prune belly syndrome.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Contact the usual healthcare team promptly for possible urinary infection symptoms, including fever, pain or crying during urination, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, new wetting, back pain, poor feeding, or unexplained irritability.

    Children with urinary tract abnormalities may need testing even when symptoms seem mild.

    Seek urgent medical care if there is fever with urinary symptoms, repeated vomiting, marked sleepiness, significantly reduced urine, or inability to pass urine.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has abdominal pain that is severe, constant, or getting worse
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange routine medical review for:

    • Changes in urine stream or bladder emptying
    • Increasing constipation or abdominal swelling
    • New urinary leakage
    • Poor growth, tiredness, or reduced appetite
    • Missed kidney, blood pressure, or imaging follow-up

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Prune belly syndrome. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.