Urinary tract infections are common in children. They involve the tube that carries urine from the urinary opening to the bladder, called the urethra; the bladder; the tubes that carry the urine from the kidneys to the bladder, called the ureters; and the kidneys. One or more structures in the urinary tract may be infected at once. Treatment of pediatric urinary tract infection is important to reduce the risk of complications.
Symptoms Requiring Treatment
A child with a urinary tract infection, or UTI, may void frequently. He may complain that it hurts or burns to urinate. He may feel that he has to urinate immediately and may have an accident. Young children may cry, become irritable and refuse to eat. The urine may have a bad odor and look unusual. The child may have a fever and pain in his side or back. Fatigue is also common during a UTI.
Prevalence
Approximately one in 12 girls and one in 50 boys will have a urinary tract infection during childhood, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Children are taken to the pediatrician around one million times each year for treatment of these infections, explains the organization.
Causes
Normally, the urinary tract is free from bacteria or other pathogens. The entrance of a foreign organism often causes an infection. A type of bacteria present in the gut, known as E. coli, is responsible for 90 percent of UTIs, explains the text, "Medical-Surgical Nursing." This can happen when a girl wipes herself from back to front during toileting or an infant has a bowel movement that reaches his urethra. Sometimes, a problem with the urinary tract is responsible. A child who holds urine for an extended period of time is also at risk of a UTI.
Medicines
Antibiotics are the most common treatments for a pediatric UTI. They work by weakening or killing the organism that has invaded the urinary tract. Sometimes, physicians prescribe a medication to numb the pain felt in the urinary tract, relates KidsHealth. Over-the-counter fever reducers and pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be given in some cases.
Non-medicine Treatment
A child with a urinary tract infection is usually encouraged to drink plenty of water or other fluids. Rarely, hospitalization is required. In the hospital, the child's temperature, heart rate and general condition is closely monitored. His urine and blood may be sent for analysis to determine if the infection is improving. Surgery may be required if the UTI originated from a defect in the urinary tract.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing"; Donna Ignatavicius, M.S., R.N. and Linda Workman, Ph.D., R.N.; 2002
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Urinary Tract Infections in Children
- The Nemours Foundation: KidsHealth: Urinary Tract Infections
- American Academy of Family Physicians: Urinary Tract Infections in Children
