Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of the bladder and sometimes the kidneys as well. The usual symptoms of a UTI are painful urination, foul-smelling urine, increased urinary frequency, urinary urgency, dribbling, wetting, and if the kidneys are involved, sometimes fever, abdominal pain, lower back pain, and vomiting. UTI's are caused by bacteria traveling up the urethra into the bladder. This is more likely to happen if the opening of the urethra is irritated from irritants such as bubble bath, soap, shampoo, fecal soiling, wet bathing suits.

If your child has any of the above symptoms, your doctor needs to check a fresh urine sample in the office in order to differentiate between a UTI and external irritation of the urethra without UTI. We treat UTI's with antibiotics to prevent any damage to the kidneys, and it's important to take the full 10 day course of antibiotics. Drinking lots of liquids including cranberry juice is also beneficial. You should contact your doctor if your child does not seem to be getting better a few days after starting the antibiotics. By then they should have urine culture results which will show which bacteria is causing the infection and which antibiotics will effectively treat it. Your doctor will want to check a follow-up urine test after your child has completed the full course of antibiotics. They can also discuss with you whether or not your child needs to have further testing done to make sure that your child does not have any structural defect or other condition that would put your child at risk for future UTI's (i.e. some kind of "plumbing problem" in their urinary system).  These tests are called a kidney ultrasound and/or a VCUG (which involves putting dye into the bladder via a small catheter and taking X-rays).

Here are some suggestions to help prevent UTI's: Drink plenty of liquids. Urinate regularly (don't hold it in.) No bubble baths. Wash the genitalia well with fresh water after a soapy bath. Urinate right after the bath. Avoid letting your child get constipated. Teach your child how to wipe well from front to back.