UTIs In Children – Know All Symptoms, Causes And Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections

Introduction

Urinary tract infections or UTIs, are somewhat a common problem faced in childhood by many individuals. For some, a simple course of antibiotic medication is enough to get well, while for others with significant disruption in either the anatomy or function of their urinary system, it might take longer. UTIs are treated by urologists, who are doctors specializing in the urinary system, which is divided into two parts. The upper urinary tract consists of the kidneys and the delicate tubular structure (ureter) that runs from the kidney to the bladder. The lower tract includes the bladder and the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outside of the body).

Symptoms

UTIs have common, specific symptoms that characterize them. These include:

• Pain while urinating or dysuria
• Need to urinate frequently
• Feeling compelling urges to urinate
• Loss of urinary control, bedwetting
• Fever
• Abdominal pain
• Flank pain (pain in the sides)
• Vomiting

Causes

UTIs are usually caused by bacteria in children. Viral infections also occur, but are less common, and fungal infections are quite rare, and only affect individuals which supressed immunity.

There are certain risk factors that increase the chances of children getting UTIs. Predisposition towards UTIs may stem from the following in children:

• Male gender
• Poor toilet habits (for example, children should urinate every 2 to 3 hours)
• Poor toilet hygiene
• Children with a compromised immune system or compromised bladder function

Prevention

Paediatric urologists advise certain guidelines that lessen the likelihood of children developing UTIs. These include:

• Toilet Hygiene: Females should wipe from front to back after using the toilet. With uncircumcised males, mild and gentle traction of the foreskin helps to expose the urethral opening. Most boys are able to fully retract the foreskin by 4 years of age. Regular washing is recommended.
• Emptying of bladder completely: Some toilet-trained children, in a hurry to leave the bathroom disregard their bladder. Encourage "double voiding" (urinating immediately after finishing the first void). Children should be encouraged to urinate approximately every two to three hours. Some children ignore the sensation of a full bladder in the desire to continue to play, which should be discouraged.
• Daily low-dose antibiotics under your doctor's supervision may be used in children with recurrent UTIs or in those with anatomic or physiologic factors that predispose them to UTIs.

Read Also : Tips to keeps your Kidney healthy

You can find the best paediatric urologists in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR for urinary tract infection treatment. There are well-known urologists in Patna, Bihar too if you live in or around the area.