URINE INFECTION
Urine infection is a disease that arises from the existence of pathogenic germs in the urine due to an infection in the urethra, bladder, kidney or prostate. This is not an isolated problem, and although they are more frequent in adulthood, they also have a high incidence during childhood. It should be noted that at this stage, the infection has differences between the sexes, because up to six months the contagion is more frequent in boys, but during the first year of life there is a progressive change towards girls: it is estimated that up to Five percent of girls of school age will have this pathology.
Urine infection is a common problem in infants and children, the former having an approximate prevalence of three percent. «Several studies show a higher prevalence in Asians, followed by white and Hispanic boys and girls and finally in African Americans».
However, not all infections are the same: varying depending on the problem and age. They distinguish between acute pyelonephritis, which is infections that affect the kidney itself, being the most serious; or cystitis that only affect the bladder and is of a lesser degree.
What are the symptoms and how they are treated?
In infants and children under 3 years, the symptoms are very nonspecific. Fever without focus is the most frequent manifestation at this stage, so it requires a urine test to be able to diagnose it.
Acute pyelonephritis is the most common type of infection in children under three years. The symptomatology is more striking, with fever (sometimes high and accompanied by chills), abdominal or lumbar pain and vomiting.
In cystitis the pain only appears during urination, the child will have a constant need to urinate and urgently, will present occasional retention, abdominal pain under the navel and, on exceptional occasions, traces of blood in the urine.
As for the diagnosis, the final urine infection can only be performed by obtaining a sample of it in a correct and hygienic way, avoiding contamination.
At the time of carrying out the same, the child’s age must be taken into account, since there are children who know how to contain urine and others who do not control it. Those children who are able to control the pee will have a urine test. «Ideally, wash the external genitals and collect a sample in a sterile container and analyze it using test strips and microscopic exams.»
In infants it is collected with an adhesive bag that is placed after washing the area and changed every 20 minutes until the sample is obtained. Then it peels off the skin and closes without passing urine to another container.
When treating this infection, the main objectives are the eradication of germs, the relief of symptoms and the prevention or reduction of kidney damage.
In children it is mainly treated with antibiotics. “For oral infections, oral medications are used. The most commonly used in this case are Amoxicillin, Cephalosporin and Doxycycline. In case of infections in the upper airways, in young infants or if there are problems for oral administration, intravenous treatment is recommended”.
Hygiene is very important
The usual route of arrival of bacteria to the urinary tract is ascending, therefore it is very important an adequate hygiene of the area, especially for girls who have a shorter urethra. Parents also have to be aware of prevention measures, such as: Don´t leave children with diapers for a long time, without changing them, avoid humidity, and general, to have a good hygiene around all the body, especially in sexual organs.
For more information, visit your doctor; not self-medicate; or write us.