The efficacy and safety of corticosteroids in pediatric kidney scar prevention after urinary tract infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Background: Acute pyelonephritis (APN) in pediatric patients may lead to kidney scarring and is one of the main causes of permanent kidney damage. The incidence of kidney scarring after one febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) is reported to range from 2.8 to 15%, with the percentage rising to 28.