Want to know more about Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in your little one? Don't worry, let's talk about it!

Moms and dads, does your little one sometimes have difficulty urinating ? Or does he just have a fever? These could be signs of a urinary tract infection. There's no need to worry, this is a common occurrence for children. However, if you are aware, you can quickly get your child out of this situation. Let's talk about this simply, in a way that you can understand.

What is a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

Simply put, a urinary tract infection ( UTI ) occurs when harmful bacteria , or small organisms, enter the child's urinary system and travel to the bladder or kidneys. When these bacteria get there and start multiplying, symptoms begin to appear.

What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection in a young child?

This may vary slightly depending on the age of the child. Let's see how it goes.

How is it for a little baby who is breastfeeding?

When a baby who is breastfeeding and can't talk yet has a UTI, they don't tell us what's wrong with them. But there are signs they show:

• Just a fever: A fever can come on suddenly for no other reason.
• Vomiting : You may vomit immediately after drinking milk, or just for a while.
• Crying all the time, no relief: If your child is crying more than usual, seems agitated, and seems difficult to comfort, you should also think about that.
• Reduce your milk intake: You can still drink milk without feeling like you normally would.

If you have one or more of these symptoms for several days, it's best to see a doctor.

How about for older children?

If the child is a little older and can talk, they may be able to tell him about their difficulties.

• Fever: Fever is a common symptom for children of this age.
• Pain when urinating: You can say things like "Mom, it hurts when I urinate " or "It's burning."
• Needing to urinate frequently: If you are having to urinate more often, that is also a symptom.
• Lower abdominal pain : You may feel pain below the belly button, in the area where the bladder is located.

What other symptoms should you be concerned about? (Cystitis symptoms)

Most urinary tract infections occur in the lower urinary tract, which is the urethra and bladder. This is medically called cystitis . You may also see symptoms like:

• It hurts, burns, and feels like an anus when urinating.
• I always run to the bathroom saying 'I have a hard time urinating ' , but I only go in small amounts.
• I wake up at night to urinate.
• Even if a child is already potty trained, they still wet the bed (wetting problems).
• I have pain in my lower abdomen (below my belly button).
• The urine has a bad smell, is dark in color, and may look like it has a little blood mixed in .

If you see something like this, you should definitely see a doctor. These infections will not get better on their own . They need to be treated.

What happens if the kidneys themselves are affected? (Pyelonephritis)

Sometimes, the bacteria in the bladder can travel up the ureters and affect the kidneys. This is a serious condition (pyelonephritis) . In addition to the symptoms mentioned above, the child may also appear to be having more difficulty urinating .

• High fever (sometimes accompanied by shaking chills).
• Pain in the flank or back (where the kidneys are).
• Excessive fatigue, constant sleepiness .
• Vomiting .

If you have symptoms like these, it means that the infection may also affect the kidneys, and you may need to be hospitalized immediately.

Why do young children get urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

Think about why this happens to these little ones. There are several reasons.

• This condition is more common in girls . This is because the urethra, the passageway through which urine passes from the bladder to the outside of the body, is shorter in girls than in boys. It is also located closer to the anus (where stool comes out), making it easier for germs to enter the urethra.
• Uncircumcised boys under one year of age are also at a lower risk than others.

What are other risk factors?

In addition to these, there may be several other reasons:

• A birth defect in the urinary system, such as a kidney malformation or a blockage somewhere in the urinary tract.
• The backward flow of urine from the bladder into the kidneys. This is called vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) . This is also seen in many children who develop UTIs.
• Lack of proper toilet habits and cleanliness is also a big reason, especially if girls do not clean properly.
• If someone in the family (mother, father, siblings) has had urinary tract infections like this before (family history).

Most importantly, these infections can cause kidney damage if not recognized and treated quickly. So it's important to be aware of these symptoms.

How does a doctor accurately diagnose a urinary tract infection (UTI)?

When you take your child to a doctor, he or she will first ask you about your child's symptoms, such as how long they have been present, and then examine the child.

Next, a urine sample is taken and sent for testing.

• If the child is a little older and understands the conversation, ask them to urinate into a special, cleaned cup.
• For a young child who is still wearing diapers and cannot urinate, a 'clean' sample may be obtained by inserting a catheter . This involves passing a thin, clean tube through the urethra into the bladder and collecting a small amount of urine. Although this may be a little uncomfortable and painful for the child, this method is sometimes necessary to accurately diagnose the infection.

This urine sample is sent to the lab and two tests are performed:

1. Urinalysis: This involves examining the urine under a microscope to see if there are any germs, pus, or blood particles.

2. Urine culture: This is the most accurate test . In this, the bacteria in the urine sample are grown in the lab. This will help us determine exactly what bacteria is causing the infection and help us choose the best antibiotic for that bacteria.

How are urinary tract infections (UTIs) treated?

Once a UTI is confirmed, the doctor will start antibiotics . These medications kill the germs.

• After giving the medicine, a urine test will be done again a few days later to see if the infection has completely cleared up. This is very important, because if the infection is not properly treated, it can come back or spread.
• If you have severe pain when urinating, your doctor may give you a pain reliever that numbs the inside of your urethra. This medicine may temporarily turn your urine orange, but don't worry about it.
• The most important thing is to give your child the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by the doctor, at the right time, and for the right number of days. Even if your child feels a little better or the fever goes down, don't stop the medication. You should give the full course.
• Symptoms such as pain and inflammation should subside within two to three days of starting the medication.
• During this time , give your child plenty of fluids, especially water. But avoid drinks with caffeine (such as soda, iced tea, and cola) , as they can irritate the bladder.
• In most cases, if treated properly, it will heal completely within a week.

What if the infection is a little severe?

Sometimes, especially in cases of kidney infection (pyelonephritis), a child may need to be hospitalized for treatment. This happens in cases like these:

• If the child has a high fever , seems to be in a lot of pain , or if the doctor thinks he may have a kidney infection .
• If the child is younger than 6 months .
• If there is a suspicion that germs from the infected urinary tract have spread to the bloodstream (sepsis) .
• If the child is dehydrated , or if they are vomiting and not taking any oral medication or fluids .

In such cases, the child may need to be hospitalized and given antibiotics either through a syringe or intravenously (IV) as saline .

Doctors closely monitor children with the aforementioned VUR (vesicoureteral reflux) , a condition in which urine flows backward through the bladder. It can sometimes be treated with medication, and rarely with surgery. For many children, mild forms of this condition get better on their own as they get older. However, for some, if left untreated, kidney damage or kidney failure can occur later in life.

Can urinary tract infections (UTIs) be prevented?

"Why not? It's possible! There are a few little things that if we pay attention to in our daily lives, this can be largely prevented. It's just like our household chores."

• Change diapers frequently for young children who are breastfeeding and wearing diapers. It is especially important to change diapers as soon as possible after the child has a bowel movement. This will reduce the spread of germs.
• When children are potty trained, teach them good hygiene habits . Girls in particular should be taught to wipe from front to back (front to back) – not back to front. This will prevent germs from the anus from entering the urethra.
• School-age girls should avoid taking bubble baths and using harsh soaps . These can irritate the skin around the urethra, making it easier for germs to enter.
• Also, dress girls in cotton underwear instead of nylon underwear. Cotton underwear absorbs sweat, which reduces the growth of germs.
• Teach every child , "Don't hold in your urine when you feel the urge to urinate , just go quickly." When there is too much urine in the bladder, it becomes a good place for germs to grow.
• Make sure to drink plenty of water and fluids . This will help flush out germs by encouraging frequent urination. But as mentioned earlier, avoid drinks that contain caffeine.

When should you definitely see a doctor?

If you have any of these symptoms , you should definitely see a doctor without delay :

• If you have shaking chills along with a fever that comes on for no reason (especially if you have back pain or pain when urinating).
• If you have bad-smelling, bloody , or discolored urine .
• If you have lower back pain or lower abdominal pain (especially below the navel) .
• If an older child has a fever of more than 38.3 degrees Celsius (101°F) , or if an infant has a rectal temperature of more than 38 degrees Celsius (100.4°F) .
• If a baby has a fever, is not feeding properly, keeps vomiting, or is crying more than usual or seems unusually irritable.

The most important thing to remember is

Okay, so we've talked a lot about urinary tract infections (UTIs) now, haven't we?

Remember, although urinary tract infections are common in young children, they should not be ignored.

If you recognize it on time and follow the treatment given by a doctor exactly and completely, you can recover quickly . Always pay attention to your child's behavior and what he says. If you have any doubts, never hesitate to talk to a doctor. Because, your awareness and quick action are the child's greatest protection! Don't worry, doctors are there to help you.

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