Infections of the bladder, or cystitis, in toddlers are diagnosed by the presence of bacteria in the urine and presence of symptoms such as frequent and painful urination, bed wetting after successful potty training, squatting, abdominal pain, and bloody and cloudy urine. Toddlers with only bladder infection usually do not have fever. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, children between 2 to 4 years of age are at a high risk of developing bladder infections and girls are 4 times more likely to develop the infection than boys. Antibiotics are the mainstay of the treatment.
Antibiotics
Cystitis in toddlers is treated with a seven day course of antibiotics and rarely requires hospitalization. The choice of antibiotic depends upon the age of the child, any known allergies, type of bacteria causing the infection, and severity of the patient's condition. A broad spectrum antibiotic that is effective against a variety of bacteria may be prescribed initially. This may be followed with a more specific antibiotic, once the laboratory tests identify the exact pathogen.
The clinical trials for children with bladder infections are poorly controlled and hence, some controversy exists about the type of antibiotic that can be used. However, Merck Online Medical Library recommends first and third generation cephalosporins such as ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefazolin, cephalexin, gentamicin, trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole and amoxicillin to treat cystitis in toddlers. These drugs are available in a syrup form and the dosage depends on the type of the antibiotic. In children who are unable to retain oral intake and in those who are younger than 2 years old, the antibiotics may be given intravenously. The laboratory tests are repeated after 3 to 5 days to confirm the absence of the bacteria in the urine. Some children with recurrent cystitis may require a continuous low-dose of antibiotics for a period of time.
Home Remedies
Drinking fluids, especially water, can help flush out the bacteria from the bladder and also improve the functioning of the immune system. However, the National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghouse website states that while it is important to make sure that the toddler drinks the amount of water she requires, the child should not be forced to drink excess amounts of water and parents should notify the child's physician if the child is uninterested in drinking water. The UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital also recommends establishing healthy urination habits and complete emptying of the bladder every 2 to 3 hours to aid in the treatment and help prevent future infections.
Surgery
Recurrent cystitis in toddlers that occurs due anatomical abnormalities such as vesicouretral reflux, which causes urine to flow backwards, may require surgery. Vesicouretral reflux may spread the bladder infection to the kidneys and can make treatment difficult. Although most physicians prefer long term antibiotics to treat this condition, severe cases of anatomical abnormalities may need surgical correction.
