Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Children, How to Detect It?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children.

By age 5, 8% of girls and 2% of boys have had at least one UTI.

Urinary tract infections in children can generally heal quickly if treated properly.

Otherwise, UTIs can lead to kidney damage and a more serious infection in the body, called sepsis .

Understanding Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract. Source: mountnittany

Urinary system (urinary system) is the body’s drainage system for removing waste and water.

The organs included in the urinary system are two kidneys, two ureters, the bladder, and the urethra.

The urinary tract consists of the upper and lower urinary tracts.

The kidneys and ureters form the upper urinary tract, then the urethra and bladder form the lower urinary tract.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that occurs in any part of your urinary system.

Most urinary tract infections occur in the lower urinary tract (urethra and bladder). UTIs are the second most common type of infection in the body.

People of any age or gender can get a UTI. However, women are at higher risk of getting a UTI than men.

As many as 40-60% of women suffer from a urinary tract infection at least once in their lifetime and 10% of women experience a UTI once a year.

Women are at higher risk than men because their urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to enter the bladder.

A person is also at higher risk of developing a urinary tract infection if they have diabetes , need a tube to drain the bladder (catheter), or have a spinal injury.

Causes and Risk Factors of UTI

Most UTIs are caused when bacteria infect the urinary tract, which consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. Each plays a role in removing waste fluid from the body.

The kidneys filter blood and produce urine, the ureters carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and the bladder stores urine until it is eliminated from the body through the urethra.

Infection can occur anywhere along this tract, but the lower tract (urethra and bladder) is most commonly infected. This is calledcystitis.

If the infection occurs in the ureter to the kidney, it is called pyelonephritis, the infection that occurs is usually more serious.

Although not usually found in urine, the bacteria can easily enter the urinary tract from the skin around the anus.

The intestinal bacteria E. coli is the most common cause of UTIs.

Uncircumcised boys also have a slightly higher risk of developing UTIs.

Other risk factors that can lead to urinary tract infections:

Abnormalities in the structure or function of the urinary tract (eg, a malformed kidney or a blockage somewhere along the normal urinary tract) Abnormal backward flow (reflux) of urine from the bladder through the ureters and into the kidneys. This condition, known as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), usually occurs in newborns. Poor toilet habits and hygiene. Use of soap on the genitals that irritates the urethra. Symptoms of UTI in Children

Signs and symptoms of urinary tract infections vary, depending on the child’s age and which part of the urinary tract is infected.

In infants and toddlers, UTI symptoms are harder to detect. Your child may appear irritable, have trouble eating, or vomit.

Sometimes the only symptom is a fever that appears for no apparent reason.

In older children, symptoms are easier to see and can reveal which part of the urinary tract is infected.

If a UTI occurs in the bladder, the symptoms are:

Pain, burning, or stinging sensation when urinating. Frequent urination (very little urine is excreted each time you urinate). Fever (not always present). Often wake up at night to go to the bathroom or wet the bed . Pain in the back of the hips, and abdominal pain in the bladder area (usually below the navel). Urine smells foul and may appear cloudy or contain blood.

A more acute condition occurs if the above symptoms are accompanied by fever to the point of chills, pain in the back or side, appearing too weak, and vomiting .

In this condition, the infection has usually reached the kidneys.

How to overcome

Urinary tract infections can be treated with antibiotics. The type of antibiotic used and for how long will depend on the type of bacteria causing the infection and how severe the infection is.

A few days after being given antibiotics, your doctor may repeat the urine test to make sure the infection is completely gone.

It is important to make sure the infection is cleared because an untreated UTI can recur and spread.

If your child has severe pain when urinating, your doctor may also prescribe medications that numb the lining of the urinary tract.

Give the prescribed antibiotics as scheduled and for as many days as the doctor directs .

Do not stop taking antibiotics even if your child appears to be getting better.

Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids, but avoid drinks that contain caffeine, such as soda and iced tea.

Children with mild UTIs are usually treated at home with oral antibiotics.

However, children with more severe infections may need to be hospitalized to receive antibiotics by injection or IV.

Children are more likely to be hospitalized for a UTI if:

The child has a high fever or looks very sick, or there is a possibility of a kidney infection. Children under 6 months of age. Bacteria from the infected urinary tract may have spread to the blood. The child is dehydrated (has low body fluid levels) or is vomiting and cannot take fluids or medication by mouth.

Children diagnosed with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), in which urine goes back into the ureters instead of flowing out of the urethra, will be closely monitored by a doctor.

Most children recover from VUR, but some may develop kidney damage or kidney failure later in life.

How to Prevent UTI in Children 1. Change Diapers Often

UTIs are fairly common in babies and toddlers, but they can be difficult to prevent. However, good diaper hygiene can help.

For example, change diapers every two to four hours and as soon as possible after the child defecates. Clean the baby’s genitals by rubbing them from front to back.

2. Teach Children the Importance of Genital Hygiene

When children start toilet training , it is important to also teach them good hygiene.

After each bowel movement, the child should be reminded to wipe from front to back (not back to front) to prevent germs from spreading from the rectum to the urethra.

All children should be taught not to hold their pee, as urine remaining in the bladder provides a good place for bacteria to grow.

Girls should avoid using soap on their genitals as it can cause irritation.

Wear cotton underwear, not nylon as it can encourage bacterial growth.

3. Ensure that your daily fluid intake is sufficient

Patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) are usually advised to drink six to eight glasses (1.5 to 2 liters) of water each day to flush the infection from the urinary system.

The best way to flush an infection from the urinary system in the body is to drink fluids until the urine is clear and the flow is strong.

Drinking more water has also been shown to be good for preventing UTIs in children. Make sure their daily water intake is adequate.

4. Eat Healthy Food

A person with a sensitive bladder may need to know which foods can trigger urinary problems and which foods can keep his or her bladder healthy.

Vitamin B and protein are good for bladder health and for overall health.

Some good food choices for people with sensitive bladders are bananas, potatoes, nuts, eggs, whole grains, and beans.

Make sure your child eats healthy and nutritious food from an early age to maintain their bladder health.

***

Parents , we hope the review of UTIs in children above is useful!

Urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms, causes, and remedies
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/189953#what-is-a-uti

Urinary tract infection (UTI)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447

Urinary Tract Infections
https://medlineplus.gov/urinarytractinfections.html

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in babies
https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/urinary-tract-infection-in-babies-and-toddlers#

Can You Flush Out a UTI With Water?
https://www.medicinenet.com/can_you_flush_out_a_uti_with_water/article.htm

Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia