Urinary tract infections (UTI) can be especially difficult to identify in infants and toddlers. As I mentioned in Friday's post, my wife and I have had several run ins with UTI's due to my daughter's condition. It was extremely difficult to identify until we were aware of some of the warning signs or symptoms. In this post today, I am going to explain the symptoms and treatments for UTI's in infants and toddlers.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional; I am writing based on our personal experiences, research, and recommendations from our pediatrician and pediatric urologist.
What are the causes?
UTI's are caused by bacteria growth in the urinary tract and bladder and are more common in girls than boys. In some cases there are underlying causes when your child has frequent UTIs. The following can increase the risk of UTIs in toddlers and infants:
Poor bathroom habits such as holding in urine or not, not wiping properly, or not getting frequent diaper changes
Constipation
Irritation in the area where urine comes out this can be caused by soaps, bubble bath, etc.
Other underlying health conditions such as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or having a blockage in the urinary tract
Symptoms
According to Nationwide Children's article, "Urinary Tract Infections In Babies," the most common symptoms of UTIs in infants and toddlers are the following:
Fever (100.4 and higher)
Crying or discomfort when urinating
Cloudy or foul smelling urine
Irritability/Fussiness
Loss of appetite
Vomiting
Additional symptoms:
Frequent urination
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Blood in urine
Back or lower stomach pain
With our daughter the main symptoms we noticed were fever, foul smelling urine (almost resembled cat pee), and touching her privates or gyrating on the ground. In most cases, fever and irritability are the only symptoms of a UTI that presents itself in infants.
Remember to call your pediatrician if you have any questions or concerns about your child.
Diagnosis:
If your pediatrician suspects your child has a UTI, they will conduct a uranalysis and a urine culture by collecting urine from your child. This can be more complicated for toddlers and infants or children who are not potty-trained. A catheter is required to get a urine sample in the instance a toddler, infant, or child is not potty-trained; in this case a thin tube is inserted into the urethra and into the bladder to collect a sample.
The catheter can cause mild pain but usually does not hurt once it is inserted. Based on personal experience, it isn't as scary as it looks and is completed very quickly.
Treatment:
If your child's uranalysis comes back positive, then your pediatrician will recommend the following:
Antibiotics
Plenty of water and fluids
Our pediatric urologist also recommended giving our daughter cranberry juice and yogurt to help limit the growth of bacteria.
Conclusion
UTI's are treatable easily, but when left untreated can cause serious problems. If your child is exhibiting any of the warning signs indicated above make sure to contact your pediatrician.
References
Boyd-Barrett, C. (n.d.). Baby uti: Symptoms and treatments. BabyCenter. https://www.babycenter.com/health/illness-and-infection/utis-in-babies-and-toddlers-symptoms-and-causes_10910
Urinary tract infections (UTI) in children. Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) in Children | Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2019, November 19). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/urinary-tract-infections/urinary-tract-infections-uti-in-children
Home. Cincinnati Childrens. (n.d.). https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/u/uti
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