If your infant's urine has a smell that is odd or very different from usual, there is a good chance he may have developed a urinary tract infection, or UTI. Additional nonspecific signs may include fever, fussiness, lack of appetite and traces of blood in the diaper. If you notice any of these signs, contact your pediatrician for further evaluation and treatment.
UTI Diagnosis
If the doctor suspects a UTI, he will need a sample of your child's urine for culturing bacteria responsible for the infection. The easiest way for collecting urine is to apply a bag in the baby's perineal area. The drawback of this method is that contamination from skin bacteria may occur, compromising the urine culture results. More reliable methods include inserting a small catheter in the ureter or urethra or collecting a bladder aspirate.
Treatment
Once the laboratory results confirm the presence of bacteria, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics to treat the infection. The selection of the antibiotic will depend on the bacterial species. Amoxicillin and cephalosporin are the most frequent antibiotics used and are generally administered for seven to 14 days. Once treatment is completed, the doctor will collect another urine sample to make sure the culture is negative.
Complications
Prompt treatment prevents the occurrence of complications such as kidney infection and high blood pressure. If your child has recurrent UTIs, your doctor will order additional tests to exclude vesico-ureteral reflux or VUR, an anomaly that induces the urine to flow backwards, from the bladder up toward the kidneys. Babies with VUR are more susceptible to developing UTIs and are at increased risk for kidney infections and subsequent damage. VUR affects 1 in 100 children and usually improves spontaneously as a child gets older.
Prevention
To minimize the risk of UTIs make sure that your baby gets plenty of fluids. Drinking helps relieve constipation, often associated with this type of infection. If your baby is breastfed, continue breastfeeding. Breast milk is known to enhance protection against several infections, including UTIs.
