Urinary Tract Infections
What is it?
The urinary tract consists of the kidneys,
ureters, bladder and urethra. The kidneys filter
waste materials from the blood and these waste
materials become urine. The ureters carry the
urine from the kidneys tothe bladder where it is
held until you go to the bathroom. The tube that
carries the urine from the bladder to the outside
of your body is called the urethra. Under normal
circumstances no bacteria grow in the urine. When
bacteria start to grow in the urine we call this a
urinary tract infection.
Urinary tract infections can be limited to the
bladder or they can affect the bladder and kidney,
a more serious condition called a kidney infection
or pyelonephritis. The younger the child is the
more difficult it is to tell the difference
between simply a bladder infection and the more
serious pyelonephritis.
Who gets it?
About 5% of girls get urinary tract infections
sometime before they graduate from high school.
After the first year of life is rare for boys to
get a urinary tract infection. The reason girls
are more likely to have urinary tract infections
is that their shorter urethras make it easier for
bacteria to get into the bladder.
What causes it?
Urinary tract infections are most often caused
by bacteria but may rarely because by viruses,
fungi or some types of parasites. The most common
causes of a urinary tract infection are the
bacteria present in the digestive system and on
the skin around the rectum and the vagina. This
bacteria can travel up through the urethra into
the bladder and cause an infection there.
Occasionally this infection can travel up to the
kidneys infecting them as well. Urinary tract
infections may also be caused by bacteria that
directly reach the kidney by traveling through the
blood stream.
What are the symptoms?
In infants specific symptoms may be difficult
to detect. Your baby will not be able to tell you
that it hurts to urinate. He or she may have a
high fever, may be irritable and not feed or
drink. Occasionally they may develop diarrhea.
Newborn babies who develop kidney infections may
be unable to clear the yellow color (jundice) from
their skin that babies often get shortly after
birth.
Older children with bladder infections may tell
you that they have a burning sensation or pain
when they urinate. These children often need to go
to the bathroom frequently and may lose control
and wet themselves before they can get to the
toilet. Sometimes they may again begin wetting the
bed.
If your child has a kidney infection they may
develop a high fever, back pain and generally feel
quite sick. In any of these presentations, the
urine may become cloudy and had a strong odor.
How is it diagnosed?
Your doctor will need to examine your child
urine to be certain of the diagnosis. In older
patients it may be possible to clean the child's
penis or vagina and collect the urine as child
urinates into a sterile container. In small
infants, particularly girls, it may be necessary
to put a thin, sterile plastic to through the
urethra into the bladder. This is done to be
certain that the urine collected is not
contaminated with the infants stool. The urine is
then examined under the microscope and more
importantly, sent to the laboratory to try and
grow the bacteria. This is an important step in
making the diagnosis and should not be left out.
What is the treatment?
Urinary tract infections are usually easy to
treat, but it's important to begin treatment right
away. Bacterial urinary tract infections need to
be treated with an antibiotic. Your doctor will
have to choose between an oral antibiotic and
giving the medicine to your child as an
intravenous infusion. The choice will depend on
whether the infection is limited to the bladder or
involves the kidney and how sick here
child-appears to be. It's also helpful to increase
your child's fluid intake to help the washout the
bacteria from the bladder and prevent dehydration.
Once you child has completed treatment it may
be necessary for your doctor to order additional
tests to be certain that your child's kidneys,
ureters and bladder are functioning correctly.
Particularly in younger children your doctor will
often order a renal and bladder ultrasound. This
test allows the doctor to be certain that the
organs are formed normally. In addition, most
physicians will obtain a voiding cystourethrogram.
This test involves putting a thin, sterile plastic
tube into your child's bladder and filling of the
bladder with some radiology dye. The radiologist
then takes pictures of the dye in the bladder to
be certain that the bladder is formed correctly
and that the dye in the bladder doesn't go back up
into the kidneys. If this happens your doctor may
have to suggest other treatments to prevent future
kidney infections.
Self-care tips
You can help prevent urinary tract infections
by making sure you always empty your bladder
completely when you go to the bathroom. Drink
plenty of fluids and don't hold your urinated for
long periods of time. If you are a girl, always
liked from front to back seat old spread bacteria
from your rectum to your urethra. Keep your
genital area clean and dry, and avoid irritating
substances like bubble baths and products that
have strong fragrances added. If you are sexually
active, make sure you wash your genital area and
urinate after intercourse. This will help to
remove any bacteria that can travel up the
urethra.
This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference
guide written by our health care reviewers. The health information written
by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your
physician. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for
professional medical advice.
|
