When should you take your child to an emergency for a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

A Urinary Tract Infection is when bacteria gets into the urine of a human being and travels up to the bladder. There is a possibility of 8 in 100 girls and 2 in 100 boys getting infected with UTI. Moreover, young children are more prone to the risk of getting kidney damage with a link to UTI than older children and adults. To get acknowledged with the details of Urinary Tract Infections and their immediate causes, you can consult the doctors of Kamineni Hospital.

Urinary Tract Infection in children

The kidneys make about 0.5 to 2 liters of urine per day in an adult that is less in children and varies as per their age. In children, their bladder can hold even less than 0.5 liters of urine. For example, a 4-year-old child’s bladder can hold 0.11 to 0.17 liters of urine that are even less than a cup.

Normal urine has no bacteria in it. The flow of urine out of the body helps prevent infections. Still, bacteria may get into the urine through the urethra that may travel up to the bladder.

Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection

When you have UTI, the lining of the digestive system supporting the formation of urine (bladder, urethra, ureters, and kidneys) becomes red and swollen. Children with Urinary Tract infections may complain about pain in the low stomach area or while they urinate. Their body may feel the pain or urge to cry while urinating. It hurts and passes only a few drops, especially in pain. Moreover, there may also be difficulty in controlling the urine that may create accidents or wet beds.

Here are some signs of a Urinary Tract Infection:

• Burning sensation when urinating
• Urgent need to pass the urine without actually passing it in real
• Foul-smelling of urine that may look cloudy or may also have blood in it
• Pain in the lower back or around the area of the bladder

Causes of Urinary Tract Infection

Normal urine is sterile or free from any kind of bacteria. Bacteria cover the skin and the large area covering the rectal space of the body and is found in stools also. Bacteria, many times, travel up to the urethra into the bladder. This happens when the bacteria multiply and get inside the urinary tract creating an infection.

Urinary Tract Infections are basically of two types:

1. Bladder Infection: When the infection is present in the bladder. This type of infection causes swelling and pain in the area of the bladder. This condition is also called cystitis.
2. Kidney Infection: This type of infection happens when the bacteria travel up to the bladder through ureters and reach the kidney. This type of infection is called pyelonephritis. Kidney infections are more hazardous than bladder infections, especially in young children.

Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in children

If your child possesses a normal urinary tract, you can prevent the happening of UTI through certain habits.

• Drain the bladder before the body starts producing the infection.
• Try to make your child drink more water to flush out infection from the body. Some children are more prone to Urinary Tract Infections.
• They can have little use of antibiotics which can help in treating the infection. Treating constipation is the ultimate treatment for UTI.
• In small babies, changing the diapers often can prevent UTIs.
• It is important to teach the kids toilet or bathroom habits. They should be taught about cleaning their urinary area with a small wipe (in the direction of front to rear). This will help [preventing the spread of infection or bacteria from the anus to the urethra.
• Children should be taught to avoid “hold up” urine for a long time. Sitting in the urinating position for long can also catch bacteria.

Diagnosis of Urinary Tract Infections

If you think that your child has possessed UTI, immediately consult the healthcare provider. The only way to detect or diagnose Urinary Tract Infections is to have a urine test. The method of testing the urine depends on the age and maturity of the child. Your healthcare provider may also collect a sample of your skin to check the infection. Your healthcare provider will simply attach a plastic bag with your child’s skin to collect the sample. But, that happens in case your child is not toilet-trained.

Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary Tract Infections can also be treated with the help of certain antibiotics or drugs. Your healthcare provider will choose the drug to detect the underlying problem. Sometimes, within a few days after your healthcare provider has tested the urine of your child, he/she might suggest you a change in antibiotic that works against the type of bacteria found in your child’s urine. Also, you can help your child fight against the infection by encouraging him/her to drink more water or other fluid.

Conclusion:

After having a few doses of antibiotics, your child may appear better. Certain cases of Urinary Tract Infections are treated within a few days or weeks. It is normal to take a week for recovery until the symptoms are gone. You can consider connecting with the experts of Kamineni Hospital, they will provide you with fully treated procedures so that your child may not get another infection. If your child gets worsen symptoms, you may be advised to help your child get admitted to the hospital. However, the doctors of Kamineni Hospital give you the correct advice, the way that is beneficial for both sides.