A lower urinary tract infection – better known as bladder infection – is common in children. It is a disease that requires action. Left untreated, there is a very good chance that a lower urinary tract infection (cystitis) will develop into an upper urinary tract infection (pelvic inflammatory disease). Children can suffer a lot of damage to the kidneys. But a urinary tract infection in children is difficult to detect, especially in young children. It is therefore very important that a parent / caregiver knows when a child is dealing with a urinary tract infection.

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In this article you will find information about the urinary tract infection:

• General information
• Causes of a urinary tract infection
• Disease symptoms
• Disease progression
• Complications
• Treatment / care
• Preventing the disease

Urinary tract infection

A lower urinary tract infection is better known as bladder infection. But not only the bladder becomes inflamed, the urethra, ureters and prostate (in boys) can also become infected.Urinary tract infections are common in children. The infections can be dangerous for children as they are difficult to notice and, if left untreated, can easily progress to a high urinary tract infection (pelvic inflammatory disease). When young children develop renal pelvic inflammatory disease, the damage to the kidneys can be extensive.Urinary tract infections mainly occur in girls. The reason for this is that one of the most common causes is a bacterium that lives in the gastrointestinal tract. In girls, the distance from the urethra to the anus is shorter than in boys. Girls’ urethra is also shorter, meaning bacteria enter the bladder more quickly.

Causes of a urinary tract infection

It is a myth that urinary tract infections are transmitted via toilet seats or are caused by cold and drafts. It is not contagious from person to person.A urinary tract infection is mainly caused when bacteria enter the urinary tract from the anus via the urethra, causing inflammation in the urethra, bladder, kidneys and prostate (in boys). The most guilty bacteria is the E. Coli bacteria.However, abnormalities in the urinary tract can also cause inflammation. Some abnormalities of the urinary tract are an abnormal bladder and reflux. The abnormal bladder mainly occurs in boys. Due to the abnormality, the bladder cannot be completely emptied. The bacteria normally found in urine have the opportunity to multiply and infect the bladder. When a child has reflux, urine flows from the bladder back into the ureters and/or the kidneys through dysfunctional valves. This also causes infections. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers with this condition often outgrow it.A cause of urinary tract infection that is not expected quickly is sweets. Sweets make a child susceptible to bladder infections. When a child eats a lot of sweets, the acidity of the urine changes. This becomes sweeter and therefore a pleasant environment for bacteria. They will multiply more quickly and cause infections in the urinary tract.

Disease symptoms

A urinary tract infection is more difficult to recognize in younger children than in older children.Children under 2 years:

• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Yield
• Not wanting to eat
• Quickly irritated
• Cry a lot
• Smelly urine
• Abnormal urination behavior (for example: often a dry diaper)

Children over 2 years:

• Frequent need to urinate (even when there is no urine)
• Burning pain when urinating
• Intermittent weak urine stream
• Urine may smell and look cloudy, cloudy or bloody
• Abdominal pain and back pain
• Wetting the bed (child is normally toilet trained)
• Daytime “pee accidents” (child is normally toilet trained)

Course of the disease

At the beginning of the disease, the child suffers from one or more of the above symptoms. When the child takes the antibiotics prescribed by the doctor, the complaints in girls usually disappear after 1 or 2 days (but complete the antibiotic treatment). In boys, the complaints can last longer as their bladder is larger than that of girls and therefore contains more bacteria.

Complications

• Without treatment, renal pelvic infection can develop.
• Kidney failure due to repeated infections (the infections damage the kidneys)

Treatment / care

If you suspect a bladder infection in a child, collect a small amount of urine so that it can be examined. At the pharmacy you can buy potties for toilet-trained children and special bags for toilet-trained children that you can put in the diaper. Ideally, take the urine sample to the doctor within two hours. If this is not possible during that time period, store the urine in the refrigerator.If it turns out that the child has a urinary tract infection, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. The child must complete the course, even if the symptoms have disappeared after 1 to 2 days.In children under 5 years of age and in boys over 5 years of age, further investigation is usually performed if a urinary tract infection is detected. Doctors will want to know what caused the infection so that they can take precautions to prevent possible kidney damage. The examination usually consists of keeping a urinary diary and an ultrasound of the urinary tract.Notify the doctor if:

• High fever
• Pain in one or both loins (this may indicate a kidney infection)

Preventing the disease

By adhering to certain codes of conduct, the risk of a urinary tract infection can be reduced.

• Let the child drink enough and regularly. Bacteria in the urine are therefore regularly removed from the bladder.
• Teach a child to go to the toilet immediately if there is an urge.
• Teach the child to empty his bladder completely. Bacteria can then not multiply in the remaining urine.
• Teach the child a good urination position (feet should be flat on the floor or step). This way it is easier to empty the bladder.
• Teach a girl to wipe herself from front to back after going to the toilet. This means that the bacteria from the anus are less likely to reach the urethra.
• Do not give the child too many sweets to eat.
• If a child is sensitive to infections, it is wise to wash the child daily and avoid scented soap and bath foam.
• It has also been proven that cranberries contain substances that make the E. Coli bacteria less likely to settle in the bladder. You can give the child these substances through cranberry juice, among other things.