Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) are caused by bacteria, which infects anywhere in the urinary tract such as the urethra and bladder. Often the bacteria comes from the bowel, or poo on the skin that has made its way into the child’s urethra. UTI’s are common in children, especially younger children who are still in nappies.
Signs and symptoms of UTI
Children may complain of:
- Pain or stinging when they pass urine.
- Needing to pass urine more frequently.
- Have trouble starting to urinate.
- Feeling their bladder is full even after urinating.
- Blood in the urine.
- Fever.
- Smelly urine.
- Pain in the lower part of the stomach.
Diagnosis
You should see your doctor if your child complains of any of the symptoms above. A urine test is needed to diagnose a UTI.
Treatment
A short course of antibiotics given by mouth is usually effective in treating a UTI. In some cases, young babies or children who are very unwell may require hospital admission for antibiotics via an intravenous drip. Children will often need to rest whilst they have a UTI. Encourage fluids to help wash out the infection.
Prevention
- Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids (water in particular).
- Encourage your child to use the bathroom frequently.
- Teach your daughter to wipe from front to back after urinating or opening her bowels to help prevent the spread of bacteria.
- Dress your child in cotton underwear to help promote better airflow making it harder for germs to multiply.