Boys and girls alike are vulnerable to urinary tract infections. However, accurate diagnosis is often difficult due to the fact that many of the symptoms experienced may also present themselves with other conditions. Detailed below are the basics of urinary tract infections and the symptoms you need to keep an eye out for as far as your children are concerned.
When bacteria are introduced into the urinary system, a urinary tract infection may occur. Urine is filtered by the kidneys and what isn’t needed gets propelled to the bladder by muscular ducts known as ureters. The urethra, the tube carrying urine from the bladder to the outside of the body is the most common entry point for bacteria.
Urinary tract infections in children occur for several reasons and probably the most common cause is inadequate toilet training. In particular, girls who are at the age of toilet training are more prone to suffer with urinary tract infections. For this reason good hygiene habits need to be developed as early as possible. For example, girls should be taught to wipe from front to back to make sure bacteria from the anus is not introduced into the urethra. Uncircumcised boys can be affected in a similar way although this tends to be less common.
Deodorised soap and scented bubble bath regularly irritate the sensitive skin children have and this can lead to infections occurring in the urethral area. A condition known as vesicoureteral reflux, where urine travels back into the kidneys instead of being flushed from the body is often experienced by some children.
Because infants can only show you that they are feeling discomfort by crying, the only symptom you are likely to see is that of a fever and this makes the condition extremely difficult to diagnose.
Of course, for older kids who can describe exactly what they are feeling, the signs of urinary tract infections are more obvious. If your child pays considerably more than normal visits to the toilet without having taken in more fluids or complains of soreness or stinging when he or she passes water this is usually an indication that the urinary tract is infected.
Urination problems can sometimes lead to bed-wetting during the night and this is likely to wake the child from sleep. Particular attention should be paid to the smell of the urine on their nappies or bedding as this will help you to decide whether or not a urinary tract infection is present. Your child may tell you that there is an uncomfortable feeling in the tummy area, in the region of the bladder. This will also help you to make a diagnosis.
The signs and symptoms your child may be experiencing can be relieved by medical attention being sought, and it goes without saying all cases of fever require immediate inspection. Make sure your child is seen by a doctor as urinary tract infections which remain untreated can spread to the kidneys and this will only lead to further and more serious symptoms and conditions being suffered by your child in the future.
