If your child has a problem that increases their risk of UTIs, such as faulty valves that allow urine to flow the wrong way, they may be prescribed low-dose antibiotics as a long-term measure to prevent further infections. Show
Your child is said to have a urinary tract infection (or UTI for short) when bacteria (germs) grows in a properly collected urine sample. Your child usually will have symptoms as well. WHY DO RECURRENT UTIs IN CHILDREN MATTER?They do matter as your child may have recurrent illness associated with urine infection. They may also lose bladder control and have problems with wetting. In some children urine infections point to an abnormality of the urinary tract (see diagram right) that might need treatment. One such abnormality is a condition called reflux. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS (complaints or signs) OF A UTI IN CHILDREN?A lot of children have bladder or cystitis like symptoms which include:
Some children may have a more severe infection involving the kidneys called pyelenephritis and we suspect this when they have a very high temperature, severe stomach or back pains, vomiting and are unwell. WHAT SHALL I DO IF I SUSPECT A URINE INFECTION?To prove a urine infection a proper urine sample has to be obtained for sending to the laboratory. This may be obtained by one of the following methods. Please check with the nurse if you are unclear as to how to collect a sample from your child.
HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE TESTS AND PREPARE MY CHILD?Many units produce information booklets about these tests which help prepare you and your child. You should be sent one of these booklets when the test is booked. If you can read one of these booklets to your child it will help to prepare them for the test they are to undergo. Some parents are anxious about telling their children about procedures as they are afraid this will upset them. However, research has shown that it is beneficial to prepare them. Although the child may become upset when told at home, this gives them a chance to learn what lies ahead and gain reassurance from their parents. Further help may be available from the hospital. Do talk to the nurse or doctor if you have any questions. WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT FURTHER INFECTION?You have probably already received some information about this already but in case not, the following would be advised:
Sometimes laxatives may be prescribed for your child but these are not the answer in the long term.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS FOUND TO HAVE TO HAVE REFLUX?This refers to the passage of urine back up the bladder to the kidney or kidneys. Urine may carry infection with it and this could lead to damage of the kidneys. It is therefore suggested that your child should receive antibiotics in a single dose every night. This is called ‘prophylaxis’. By using a very small dose it is hoped to prevent further infections occurring, whilst avoiding problems with your child becoming resistant to the antibiotics. Please make sure that your child gets the antibiotic on a regular basis and report to the doctor if there are any problems with your child taking the medicine regularly. There is long experience of children on prophylaxis for many years and very few problems have occurred. If you do have any objections to your child receiving long term antibiotics please be frank and discuss the point with the doctor in the clinic. The following points are very important:
RECORDING INFECTIONSIf your child has symptoms then it is IMPORTANT that your child always has a urine culture BEFORE the antibiotic is changed. Please ask your doctor for the result of the urine culture and write it down. You should also write down what antibiotic was given and check that the urine has cleared of infection with a follow up culture one week after stopping the antibiotics. You should take these details to the children's clinic whenever you attend so that the hospital doctor can see what has happened since you were last seen Click here to view an example WILL URINE INFECTION DAMAGE MY CHILD'S KIDNEYS?The majority of children with urine infections, even if recurrent, have no problems and the kidneys remain perfectly healthy. However, damage to the kidneys can occur either from severe reflux in the womb before the baby is born and can occur in children who have severe reflux and infection after birth. It is therefore important for tests to be carried out to detect reflux in your child and define whether there has been any scarring or damage to the kidneys. Scars on the kidney can lead to high blood pressure (hypertension) but again this is very uncommon. Children who have damage to both kidneys can have chronic kidney damage and need to be followed long term in clinic. Again it should be stressed that most children with urine infections do not have long term damage. Content compiled by members of the Children’s Renal & Urology Unit, QMC Campus, Nottingham University Hospitals. The National Kidney Federation cannot accept responsibility for information provided. The above is for guidance only. Patients are advised to seek further information from their own doctor. Published: 2nd July, 2019 Updated: 11th September, 2020 Author: Stephen Emmerson Share this page Kidney anniversary Yes, Yes and Yes! Not only can you safely exercise with hypertension, you NEED to exercise with hypertension. Exercise on a regular basis helps to keep us healthy overall. Renal Patients and Alcohol information This section describes the kidneys and how they work, and then explores what can go wrong to cause kidney disease. Coping with kidney failure isn’t just about the physical symptoms. It will have a major impact on your life that can cause a great deal of stress and can create a range of feelings and worries. Green NephrologyGreen Nephrology is a movement to improve the environmental sustainability of kidney care. Glossary of Renal Related TermsThis glossary provides brief explanations of the various technical words and abbreviations used in relation to the treatment of kidney disease. Most read
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