Urinary tract infections in toddlers symptoms

Urinary tract infection (UTI) in children

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children are fairly common, but not usually serious. They can be effectively treated with antibiotics.

A UTI may be classed as either:

an upper UTI – if it's a kidney infection or an infection of the ureters, the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder
a lower UTI – if it's a bladder infection (cystitis) or an infection of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body

When to seek medical advice

If you think your child is unwell and could have a UTI, contact your GP as soon as possible.

Although UTIs aren't normally a serious type of infection, they should be diagnosed and treated quickly to reduce the risk of complications.

Symptoms of a UTI in children

It can be difficult to tell whether your child has a UTI, as the symptoms can be vague and young children can't easily communicate how they feel.

General signs that may suggest your child is unwell include:

a high temperature (fever)
vomiting
tiredness and lack of energy (lethargy)
irritability
poor feeding
not gaining weight properly
in very young children, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)

More specific signs that your child may have a UTI include:

pain or a burning sensation when peeing
needing to pee frequently
deliberately holding in their pee
a change in their normal toilet habits, such as wetting themselves or wetting the bed
pain in their tummy (abdomen), side or lower back
unpleasant-smelling pee
blood in their pee
cloudy pee

Diagnosing UTIs in children

In most cases, your GP can diagnose a UTI by asking about your child's symptoms, examining them, and arranging for a sample of their pee to be tested.

Treatment usually begins soon after a urine sample has been taken, and your child won't need any further tests.

In a few circumstances, further tests may be needed in hospital to check for abnormalities. Your GP may refer you straight to hospital if your child is very young.

Read more about diagnosing UTIs in children

Causes of UTIs in children

Most UTIs in children are caused by bacteria from the digestive system entering the urethra.

There are many ways this can happen, including:

when a child wipes their bottom and soiled toilet paper comes into contact with their genitals – this is more of a problem for girls than boys because girls' bottoms are much nearer the urethra
babies getting small particles of poo in their urethra when they soil their nappies – particularly if they squirm a lot when being changed

There's often no obvious reason why some children develop UTIs and others don't.

However, some children may be more vulnerable to UTIs because of a problem with emptying their bladder, such as:

constipation – this can sometimes cause part of the large intestine to swell, which can put pressure on the bladder and prevent it emptying normally
dysfunctional elimination syndrome – a relatively common childhood condition where a child "holds on" to their pee, even though they have the urge to pee
vesicoureteral reflux – an uncommon condition where urine leaks back up from the bladder into the ureters and kidneys; this occurs as a result of a problem with the valves in the ureters where they enter the bladder

Treating UTIs in children

Most childhood UTIs clear up within 24 to 48 hours of treatment with antibiotics and won't cause any long-term problems.

In many cases, treatment involves your child taking a course of antibiotic tablets at home.

As a precaution, babies under three months old and children with more severe symptoms are usually admitted to hospital for a few days to receive antibiotics directly into a vein (intravenous antibiotics).

Read more about treating UTIs in children

Preventing UTIs in children

It isn't possible to prevent all childhood UTIs, but there are some things you can do to reduce the risk of your child getting one.

The following advice may help:

if possible, exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first six months after they're born – this can help improve your baby's immune system and reduce their risk of constipation
encourage girls to wipe their bottom from front to back – this helps to minimise the chances of bacteria entering the urethra
make sure your child is well hydrated and goes to the toilet regularly – not urinating regularly and "holding in" urine can make it easier for bacteria to infect the urinary tract
avoid nylon and other types of synthetic underwear – these can help promote the growth of bacteria; loose-fitting cotton underwear should be worn instead
avoid using scented soaps or bubble baths – these can increase your child's risk of developing a UTI
take steps to reduce your child's risk of constipation – make sure they drink enough to keep their urine pale and clear during the day, and speak to your GP about medications that can help if constipation is a persistent problem

Some people feel that drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry supplements can help reduce their risk of UTIs.

However, recent high-quality research into these claims found little evidence to suggest cranberries have a significant impact on your chances of developing a UTI.

Recurrent UTIs in children

A small number of children have recurring UTIs. If your child's had a UTI before, it's important that both of you watch for the return of any associated symptoms.

Tell your GP about any symptoms as soon as possible so a diagnosis can be confirmed and treatment can begin.

If your child has a problem that increases their risk of UTIs, such as faulty valves that allow urine to flow the wrong way, they may be prescribed low-dose antibiotics as a long-term measure to prevent further infections.

Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in Children

What is a urinary tract infection (UTI) in children?

A urinary tract infection is inflammation of part of the system that takes urine out of the body. It’s caused by bacteria. The urinary tract includes the two kidneys. They remove liquid waste from the blood in the form of urine. Narrow tubes (ureters) carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Urine is stored in the bladder. When the bladder is emptied, the urine travels through a tube called the urethra and passes out of the body. Bacteria can infect any part of this system.

What causes a UTI in a child?

Normal urine contains water, salts, and waste products. It is free of germs such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. An infection happens when germs enter the urethra, travel up to the bladder, ureters, and kidneys, and begin to grow. Most infections are caused by bacteria from the digestive tract. The most common is Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. These normally live in the colon.

Which children are at risk for a UTI?

A UTI is not common in children younger than age 5. A UTI is much more common in girls. This is because they have a shorter urethra. A UTI is unlikely in boys of any age. But it can occur in boys if part of the urinary tract is blocked. Uncircumcised boys are more at risk for a UTI than circumcised boys. A child with a part or full blockage in the urinary tract is more likely to develop a UTI.

What are the symptoms of a UTI in a child?

Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each child.

Symptoms in babies can include:

Fever
Bad-smelling urine
Irritability
Crying
Fussiness
Vomiting
Poor feeding
Diarrhea

Symptoms in children can include:

Sudden need to urinate
Need to urinate often
Loss of control of urine (incontinence)
Pain while urinating
Trouble urinating
Pain above the pubic bone
Blood in the urine
Bad-smelling urine
Nausea and vomiting
Fever
Chills
Pain in the back or side below the ribs
Tiredness

The symptoms of a UTI can seem like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

How is a UTI diagnosed in a child?

The healthcare provider will ask about your child’s symptoms and health history. The provider will give your child a physical exam. Your child may also have tests, such as:

Urine testing. This is also known as urinalysis. Your child’s urine is sent to a lab to check for red blood cells, white blood cells, bacteria, protein, and signs of infection. The urine will also be sent for a culture and sensitivity. This is done to figure out what type of bacteria is causing the infection and what medicine is best to treat the infection.
Kidney ultrasound. This is a painless imaging test. It uses sound waves and a computer to make images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. It can show internal organs as they function and can assess blood flow through vessels. A boy with a UTI or a girl younger than age 5 or 6 may need this test.
Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). This is a type of X-ray of the urinary tract. A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is put in the tube that drains urine from the bladder to the outside of the body (the urethra). The bladder is filled with a liquid dye. X-ray images are taken as the bladder fills and empties. The images will show if there is any reverse flow of urine into the ureters and kidneys.

How is a UTI treated in a child?

Treatment will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. Treatment may include:

Antibiotic medicine
A heating pad or medicines to relieve pain
Drinking plenty of water

Your child's healthcare provider may want to see your child back again a few days after treatment starts to see how treatment is working.

Talk with your child’s healthcare providers about the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of all treatments.

How can I help prevent a UTI in my child?

You can help prevent UTIs in your child if you:

Make sure your child drinks plenty of fluids
Tell your child to empty his or her bladder fully when urinating
Teach girls to wipe from the front to back after going to the bathroom
Make your child doesn’t get constipated

When should I call my child’s healthcare provider?

Call the healthcare provider if your child has:

Symptoms that don’t get better, or get worse
New symptoms

Key points about a UTI in children

A urinary tract infection is inflammation of part of the system that takes urine out of the body.
Most infections are caused by bacteria from the digestive tract. The most common is Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. These normally live in the colon.
A UTI is not common in children younger than age 5. A UTI is much more common in girls because they have a shorter urethra.
A UTI is unlikely in boys of any age, unless part of the urinary tract is blocked. Uncircumcised boys are more at risk for a UTI than circumcised boys.
Symptoms vary by age, and can include fever, need to urinate often, pain, and crying.

Next steps

Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your child’s healthcare provider:

Know the reason for the visit and what you want to happen.
Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis, and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you for your child.
Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help your child. Also know what the side effects are.
Ask if your child’s condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
Know what to expect if your child does not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
If your child has a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your child’s provider after office hours. This is important if your child becomes ill and you have questions or need advice.

Urinary tract infection in children

Urinary tract infection is the presence of a clinically significant number of bacteria in the urinary tract in a patient with clinical manifestations of infection [2]. This definition is given to us by foreign colleagues. In domestic recommendations, the definition is somewhat simpler, and this, in our opinion, creates some confusion in the heads of doctors, and, as a result, parents.

A urinary tract infection is a growth of bacteria in the urinary tract. nine0003

A little later I will explain why the difference in definitions is so important.

Urinary tract infection occurs at different ages with different frequency. It is customary to say that in children under 3 months the average frequency is about 7.2%, while in girls it is about 7.5%, and in boys it is 2.3% with circumcised foreskin and 20.1% without circumcision. At the age of over 3 months, such striking differences are no longer found, and the frequency of occurrence is 4.5–6.5%. And it remains approximately the same throughout the entire period of childhood, while in girls the frequency of occurrence is approximately 4 times higher than in boys [1]. nine0003

Why is a urinary tract infection dangerous?

First of all, the fact that as a result of the course of the infectious process, the death of some parts of the renal tissue may occur, as a result of which scars will form. This is called nephrosclerosis. It is bad because the scar, unlike the renal tissue, which is called the parenchyma, does not perform the functions of the kidney, that is, the renal function decreases. As a result, chronic kidney disease develops, or, as it was previously called, chronic renal failure. nine0003

Also, while we have not begun to discuss the causes and other things associated with UTIs in children, I want to note that the division of urinary tract infections in children into the usual cystitis, pyelonephritis at an early age is extremely difficult, in this regard, it is customary to use a broad term UTI for children under two years of age.

Causes

The causes of any infection are infectious agents. There are several of them: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa . In the case of urinary tract infections in children, the most common cause is bacteria . Urinary tract infections of viral etiology are extremely rare in children, usually they are children older than two years and it manifests itself most often as cystitis, fungal infections are always associated with immunodeficiencies, and therefore are also quite rare [3,2].

About bacteria: the leader in this matter is E. coli. Its share in the structure of the incidence of urinary infections accounts for about 80%. Of course, both Klebsiela and Proteus and various types of Staphylococci are capable of causing UTI and even cause it, but their proportion is not very large. Moreover, if we focus on the global evidence base, it is urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli that most often lead to the formation of nephrosclerosis [1,3,4]. nine0003

Pathogenesis

A terrible word, this will probably be the most difficult to read section of this article, but without understanding it, it will be quite difficult to understand the logic of diagnosis and treatment. We will try to make it as accessible as possible.

A huge amount of research tells us that bacteria enter the urinary tract from below. In medicine, this is called the ascending pathway of penetration, but this is not particularly important. From below, this is not from the floor, as one might think, but from the skin of the perineum and the mucous membrane of the genital organs. However, this does not mean at all that it is urgent to wash the child with antibacterial soap. nine0025

First, antibacterial soap was invented to wash the surgeon's hands before surgery.
Secondly, in principle, washing the perineum with soap is not very good, bacteria will be there anyway, because their home is there.

Bacteria adapt - this is important.

In order for bacteria, like any organism, to survive, they have all sorts of useful devices. For example, small legs (drank), with which they can attach to the mucous membrane, or a capsule that protects the cell wall from an aggressive environment. All these things, bacteria acquire in the process of evolution and interaction with various environments. In addition, we ourselves actively help them in this matter, for example, when they use antibacterial drugs uncontrollably and incorrectly. [6, 7, 8] nine0003

After the bacteria have entered the urethra, they diligently begin to climb higher, and here our body has something to oppose to them.

The mucous membrane begins to actively produce mucus . The more bacteria, the more active. Mucus - firstly, it makes the attachment of bacteria not so strong. Try to hang on a dry horizontal bar yourself and hang on a horizontal bar that has been lathered with soap. The difference will be very obvious. In addition, when mucus is produced, the blood flow increases, and with the blood flow, a huge amount of very useful for protection comes to this place, including leukocytes and other substances that are so “favorite” by mothers, which, after getting into place, come to grips with the intruder. [1,6]. nine0003
The next defense mechanism is urine itself (just try to take it out of context and start using it, I will come in terrible dreams for the rest of my life).

The main protective properties of urine should be attributed to the fact that it flows and this current washes away bacteria that do not cling very tightly to the wall due to mucus.

The second no less important property of urine is that it is acidic, and most bacteria do not really like an acidic environment and, if they do not die immediately in it, then at least stop multiplying. nine0003

It is on this fact that the idea of taking cranberry-based drugs or products for prevention is based. The only problem is that the body is a little more complicated than a pot of soup, but more on that later.

The third protective factor that helps the body fight infection is urinary tract epithelium . It updates very quickly. And if the inflammatory process flows nine0003

So why does an infection still occur?

Mucus is released, urination has become more frequent, urine is acidic in itself, but this does not save if there are too many bacteria.

No matter how cool the 3 musketeers are, but there are only three of them, if the guardsmen have a numerical advantage, the musketeers cannot cope.

When is there a lot of bacteria?

When the path to be taken by bacteria is short (the female urethra is only 8–9cm, and men's - 20-25)
When a child cannot control a bowel movement (for example, in a diaper)
When there is an obstruction to the outflow of urine (hydronephrosis, vesicoureteral reflux, posterior urethral valve, bladder dysfunction, chronic constipation)

Usually these are the most common reasons that bacteria still break into the urinary tract. After they have broken through, they begin to actively share, and here the help of doctors is needed. nine0003

It seems that we figured out the pathogenesis, drove on. I hope those who read carefully will be a little less afraid of a urine test with 3 leukocytes.

Clinical picture

Symptoms of UTIs in children differ depending on the age of the child [1].

It is customary to talk about signs of infection in a child younger than two years old.

Why are the manifestations different?

Most likely this is due to the fact that it is extremely difficult for a child under 2 years old to complain, and we are forced to focus on objective indicators of the disease. nine0003

Objective symptoms of UTI in a child under 2 years of age, most often only one - an increase in body temperature above 38.5 degrees Celsius, without other signs of infection. Namely, the pediatrician examines and ascertains the absence of cough, redness of the throat, runny nose and other signs of respiratory infections.

There are no other manifestations of urinary tract infection at this age!

What about our favorite urine test. Urine analysis is of clinical importance only if there is a guarantee of a sterile set of this very urine. Recommendations say that the guarantee of a clean collection is collection with a sterile urinary catheter or suprapubic puncture of the bladder. And one and the other way is only suitable for a doctor. That is, the urine collected by the mother in a jar to assess the presence of a urinary tract infection is not suitable. [1,2,4,5]. nine0003

Children older than two years of age may develop additional symptoms of a urinary tract infection, such as: frequent urination, pain when urinating, pain in the lumbar region or above the pubis.

But, here it is also very important that all this should be the same against the background of an increase in temperature above 38.5 degrees. Urinary tract infection in healthy children always occurs with fever. No other is given. [9, 5] Congratulations to all parents whose children were diagnosed with chronic pyelonephritis by urinalysis, in the absence of clinical symptoms. You most likely do not have any chronic pyelonephritis. nine0003

Separately, I would like to note such a moment as the smell of urine. There is a discrepancy between our recommendations and foreign ones. Foreigners say that the smell of urine is not a diagnostic symptom of urinary tract infection in children and at the same time refer to a number of clinical studies in which parents, using a questionnaire, noted that the smell was different from the usual one, and doctors, not knowing about the questionnaire, diagnosed UTIs. As a result, most studies have not found a clear statistically significant relationship between urine odor and UTI in children [1]. nine0003

Our guidelines state that foul-smelling urine is a clinical criterion for urinary tract infection, without reference to anything [4]. This is how we write recommendations, nothing can be done about it. Although, it should be noted that this is also not the main feature, so let's forgive our creators this discrepancy.

Why, in my opinion, the smell of urine has no clinical significance? Because the smell changes depending on a bunch of different factors that cannot be objectively taken into account. nine0003

Given the very minor manifestations of urinary tract infections in children, there are very few diagnostic methods, not because there are few methods, but because more is simply not needed. To diagnose a urinary tract infection in children, an examination by a pediatrician is sufficient. If the child can collect an average portion of urine, then a urine test will also help.

Also, if a urinary tract infection is suspected, ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder is performed in order to assess the state of these same organs [2]. nine0003

The main examinations begin after a urinary tract infection, as we need to exclude what is called in medical language - a complicated urinary tract infection. Namely, anomalies in the development of the urinary tract.

Here again we run into differences, this time between the recommendations of pediatricians and the recommendations of urologists. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers that a single episode of urinary tract infection is not a reason to conduct an examination [1]. The American Association of Urology (there are no separate pediatric urologists and this is reasonable) does not agree with this idea, because there is about a 40% chance of missing vesicoureteral reflux and other pathologies that do not manifest themselves. nine0003

The European Association of Pediatric Urology also disagrees with the idea of no examination for a single urinary tract infection. As a result, until a consensus was reached in the following way: if the child had a urinary tract infection and, according to ultrasound, he does not have signs of expansion of the pyelocaliceal system of the kidneys, then you can not examine, but control the ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder. If the child had a urinary tract infection more than 1 time, even without changes according to ultrasound, a complete urological examination is indicated [10]. nine0003

Here, it is important to remember that the infection must be confirmed clinically. That is, there should be a clinical picture if we are talking about children under 2 years old. If the child is older than two years, then there should be a clinical picture, analysis and urine culture.

And the second point, which is no less important for children older than two years. If they have a urinary tract infection, it is imperative to indicate the location of the infection. This is where the well-known come on stage: cystitis and pyelonephritis. nine0003

How to treat?

Given the fact that we are talking about an infection, that is, about the presence of bacteria, we treat it with antibacterial drugs. The doctor at the appointment will tell you about the dosage, duration, etc., but there is no other method of treating the infection. If someone says: you have a urinary tract infection - drink vitamins, dietary supplements, herbal remedies - this has nothing to do with treatment. In order to cure the infection, you need to kill the bacteria in the urinary tract.

Where, then, are all the different preparations for prophylaxis? nine0090

They are for prevention. But prevention is the measures we take to prevent re-infection. It is usually done after treatment, when we have proven clear test results and we understand that there are no bacteria in the urinary tract.

What methods are available to prevent UTIs in children?

Given the fact that there are natural functions of the body that protect us from the penetration of bacteria into the urinary tract, prevention should begin influencing these very functions: nine0003

Drinking regimen - there is no norm for fluid intake. Here it is important to dance from the characteristics of the body, someone needs a little more, someone a little less, however, when a girl of 7-8 years old comes to the reception, fills out a urination diary and we understand that she drinks 400-500 milliliters of fluid per day - it is still very small.
A child under 3 years old usually drinks 200-900 ml. liquids. A child over 3 years of age usually drinks more than 1 liter. It is important to take into account all the liquid, and water and juice and tea and compote. That is, if a child drinks a cup of tea and 1 glass of water 4 times a day, most likely he does not have a deficit in fluid intake. Here our task is rather to offer a drink, as children tend to forget about it when they are busy with something interesting. nine0003
An integral part of the drinking regime - urination . Just as a child can forget to drink, go to the toilet, he too can forget or delay. It is important to remind the child of this. On average, this must be done 1 time in 2-2.5 hours.
Control of vaginal microflora in girls . Yes, unfortunately, even in little girls, often recurrent urinary tract infections occur due to problems in the vagina or problems associated with the vulva. Examination by a gynecologist is very important, as often the symptoms attributed to cystitis are not related to it. nine0003
Control of stool regularity . A constipated child is the number 1 candidate for a urinary tract infection. It is important to consume a sufficient amount of fiber, to monitor the regularity of the stool. If you can’t solve problems with the stool on your own, you need to contact a pediatrician or gastroenterologist.
Antibiotic prophylaxis - a situation where a child is prescribed to take uroseptic drugs for a long time. Yes, there is such a method. Yes, it's in the instructions. But antibiotics do not cure the cause. If the infection recurs, there is a reason. The antibiotic treats the infection. The cause remains, which means that after the antibiotic is discontinued, it is likely to reappear. nine0003

Bladder infusions and instillations, physical therapy do not appear in the recommendations and decent studies, since there is no data on their effectiveness.

Currently, bacteriophage preparations are being actively studied and used for the prevention of urinary tract infections, including in children. According to currently available data, these methods show good efficiency, but research is ongoing. nine0003

Pins

As a conclusion, I would like to say that urinary tract infection is a rather wide problem for a number of reasons:

Firstly, outpatient doctors have obvious difficulties in understanding the criteria for making this diagnosis and the tactics of examination and treatment of such children.

Secondly, the cheapness and availability of basic urinalysis results in a huge stream of children with "bad" urinalysis who are prescribed therapy with the sole purpose of curing the analysis. nine0041

Thirdly, at the same time, there is a fairly large number of children with recurrent cystitis, the diagnosis and treatment of which is carried out without taking into account any recommendations, using "author's" treatment regimens, which is unacceptable in medicine in general, and especially in pediatric practice. The inefficiency of such methods significantly increases the duration of the disease, reduces the quality of life of children and parents, in addition, economically, these methods can be very costly for the family budget. nine0041

The problem of urinary tract infections in children is multidisciplinary in nature and requires the collaboration of several specialists to achieve a good result in the treatment of small patients.

Sources :
Nader Shaikh, MDAlejandro Hoberman, MD Urinary tract infections in children: Epidemiology and risk factors, https://www.uptodate.com/contents/urinary-tract-infections-in-children-epidemiology-and-risk-factors
Nader Shaikh, MDAlejandro Hoberman, MD, Urinary tract infections in infants and children older than one month: Clinical features and diagnosis, https://www. uptodate.com/contents/urinary-tract-infections-in-infants-and-children -older-than-one-mo...
Wald ER. Cystitis and pyelonephritis. In: Feigin and Cherry’s Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 8th ed, Cherry JD, Harrison G, Kaplan SL, et al (Eds), Elsevier, Philadelphia 2019. p.395.
Urinary tract infection, clinical guidelines of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation of 2021, 33 p.
L.B. Menovshchikova, Yu.E. Rudin, T.N. Garmanova, V.A. Shaderkina Clinical guidelines for pediatric urology-andrology. M.: Pero Publishing House, 2015.
Oelschlaeger TA, Dobrindt U, Hacker J Virulence factors of uropathogens. Curr Opin Urol. 2002;12(1):33.
Mulvey MA Adhesion and entry of uropathogenic Escherichia coli. Cell Microbiol. 2002;4(5):257.
Nielubowicz GR, Mobley HL, Host-pathogen interactions in urinary tract infection. Nat Rev Urol. 2010 Aug;7(8):430-41. nine0025 Shaikh N, Craig JC, Rovers MM, Da Dalt L, Gardikis S, Hoberman A, Montini G, Rodrigo C, Taskinen S, Tuerlinckx D, Shope T, Identification of children and adolescents at risk for renal scarring after a first urinary tract infection : a meta-analysis with individual patient data. JAMA Pediatr. 2014;168(10):893.
Guidelines on Pediatric Urology. European Society for Pediatric Urology. 2020. Available at: https://uroweb.org/wp-content/uploads/EAU-ESPU-Guidelines-on-Pediatric-Urology-2020.pdf nine0003

Urinary tract infection in newborns.

Urinary tract infection in young children is no less common than viral respiratory infections. Vomiting and nausea, cramps in the abdomen are often attributed by parents to colic, malnutrition or intestinal infections. However, with such symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor. If this is a urinary tract infection, then its untimely diagnosis and treatment will lead to unpleasant consequences for the baby. nine0003

A urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria in the child's body begin to multiply rapidly in the urinary tract.

Most often this pathology is caused by microbes such as:

- Escherichia coli,

- Staphylococcus aureus,

- Pseudomonas aeruginosa,

- Klebsiella

Often, infections in the urinary tract of infants develop against the background of urinary tract malformations.

These include:

- vesicoureteral reflux;

- narrowing of the ureters;

- malposition of the organs of the urinary system;

- horseshoe kidney and others

Another cause of infection is the presence of a microbial focus in the body. With an infectious-inflammatory pathology of other organs, the bacterial flora can enter the kidneys and urinary tract, causing inflammation there. Also, the bacterium can enter the baby's body from the mother during breastfeeding. nine0003

Genitourinary infection in infants presents with the same symptoms as in adults. The problem is that a newborn baby cannot complain.

Parents should keep a close eye on their child to detect symptoms of illness.

Initial symptoms include tearfulness, restlessness, poor sleep and loss of appetite.

In children under one year old, a urinary tract infection may be manifested by a decrease or increase from the age norm of urine excreted, a change in the color and saturation of urine (the child's urine may become bright yellow (with an increase in the concentration of urine, which is usually accompanied by a decrease in its quantity), red or brown (admixture of blood. ) When bacteria appear, the urine does not change its color, but becomes cloudy and loses its transparency.0003

Edema may appear due to the characteristics of the baby's body, the appearance of an unpleasant smell from the diaper.

The appearance of restlessness and crying when urinating, which indicates the presence of pain and cramps in the baby. Often, mothers note that the child strains when urinating. In this case, an intermittent stream of urine is recorded.

The rise in temperature to high numbers, if it does not go away after taking antipyretics and persists for several days, this is a reason to suspect an infection. nine0003

Infection of the genitourinary system in infants is detected by laboratory analysis of urine, urine culture, blood test, b / x blood test.

In case of inflammation, blood and urine tests show an increase in the number of leukocytes. With bakposev, it is possible to identify which bacterium caused the infection, and determine the individual sensitivity of the microbe to the antibiotic.

As noted above, the cause of infection in infants may be a congenital malformation of the genitourinary organs. nine0003

If this pathology is suspected, the following examinations should be performed:

- ultrasound examination of the urinary system organs;

- voiding cystography;

- retrograde radiography of the kidneys;

- CT or MRI of the kidneys.

The basis for the treatment of urinary tract infection is antibiotic therapy. A broad-spectrum antibiotic or a drug based on sensitivity is prescribed. The antibiotic is taken orally or injected intravenously. nine0003

It is important that if an infection is detected, the infant must be hospitalized for the duration of treatment.
In addition to antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and antipyretics are used. Moreover, many medicines are produced in a convenient form of application, for example, in candles.

Herbal uroseptics are often prescribed, which do not have a toxic effect and contribute to the recovery of the child. In no case should you start treatment on your own or cancel medications without a doctor's prescription. This will lead to the fact that the disease will go into a latent stage and will periodically worsen, again and again causing unpleasant symptoms. In addition, many drugs are contraindicated for children and their uncontrolled use will bring irreparable harm to the child. nine0003

Infection in babies with malformations will constantly recur despite good treatment. Therefore, the only way out is to carry out an operational correction of the defect. It should be noted that the operation is possible only after the acute inflammatory process is eliminated.

Prevention of urinary tract infections in infants.

In order to rule out an illness in a child, the following points should be followed:

- Carefully monitor the hygiene of the child's urinary organs. nine0003

- avoid hypothermia of the baby;

- monitor the rationality of nutrition.

Every year about 1400 children are treated in the Department of Prematurity and Pathology of Newborns.