About this topic
A urinary tract infection is also called a UTI. It is caused by germs getting into your childs urinary tract. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The urethra is a tube at the bottom of the bladder. Urine flows out of this tube away from your child's body, taking the germs with the urine. The germs enter the urethra and then spread up into the bladder. The ureters are small tubes that join your child's bladder and kidneys. A bladder infection is when the lower urinary tract is infected. A kidney infection is in the upper urinary tract. A UTI is more common in girls. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask the doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child.
- Be sure your child takes all of the drugs to treat the UTI.
- Teach your child to wipe from front to back after going to the bathroom.
- Teach your child to go to the bathroom every 2 to 3 hours. This will help your child learn not to hold urine for a long time.
- Ask the doctor how to treat hard stools if this is a problem
- Put a hot water bottle or a heating pad wrapped in a cloth or towel on your childs belly to help with pain. Do this for 20 minutes at a time. Never let your child sleep with a heating pad as this may cause burns.
- Make sure your child drinks at least 6 to 8 glasses of fluids each day.
- Have your child wear cotton underwear.
- Avoid giving your child bubble baths.
What follow-up care is needed?
The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits. The doctor may want to do some tests to make sure the UTI is gone. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain
- Fight the germs causing the UTI
Will physical activity be limited?
Physical activities will not be limited. Your child may have to go to the bathroom more often. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
Do not give your child drinks with caffeine like soda or tea. These may bother the bladder. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Kidney damage
- UTI may spread into the childs bloodstream. This is called sepsis.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of a very bad reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat. Go to the ER right away.
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, or pain when passing urine.
- Blood in the urine
- Your child has bad pain in the back, sides, or belly
- Little urine is passed by your child or no urine passed after 4 hours
- Your child is not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or is feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you how my child should wipe the bottom and how often my child should pass urine.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child has bad pain in the back, sides, or belly or is passing little or no urine.
Where can I learn more?
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Urinary-tract-infection-children/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases ‚
http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utichildren/ ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚