How To Prevent Urinary Tract Infections In Small Children

As the name suggests, a urinary tract infection is an infection of the urinary tract. The infection includes the kidneys, bladder and uterus. The main cause of UTI is a colonization of the periurethral area, by a virulent organism that subsequently gains access to the bladder. The organism being talked about is the E coli bacteria, which when enters the urethra (opening to the urinary tract) clings to the walls of the urinary tract and continues to grow. This development can cause Urinary Tract Infection. The risk is higher in uncircumcised male infants as well as females. The first few months of a baby’s life makes him/her more prone to UTI and thus, parents should be more concerned about the personal hygiene of the child. To know how to prevent urinary tract infections in small children, go through the following lines.

Symptoms Of UTI

Recognizing the symptoms of UTI in children can be a little difficult, though the below mentioned signs are the ones which are most associated with the infection.

Burning sensation during urination
Compulsive urges to urinate, but discharge of little or no urine
Lower abdominal pain
Dark, strong smelling urine
Low grade fever
Vomiting and diarrhea

Preventing UTI in Small Children

In case of infants and toddlers, change the diapers frequently to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Dress your child in loose-fitting clothing, specially the underpants. Cotton underwear that fully covers the genital area will work well. Synthetic fibers, such as nylon and polyester, can irritate the private area, allowing the bacteria a natural habitat to thrive in. So, avoid them altogether.
In case of a girl, teach her to wipe the entire area from front to back, when she uses the bathroom, so that germs from the rectum do not enter the vagina.
If your boy is uncircumcised, tell him to wash the foreskin on his penis regularly.
Encourage your children to have enough fluids throughout the day. He/she should be made to consume at least 8-10 glasses of water each day. Less water consumption will keep the urine production low, and the bacteria will not be flushed out of the body. The bacteria can develop into a urinary tract infection.
Mix 1/2 cup of unsweetened cranberry juice and 1/2 cup of water and give the child one glass of this diluted cranberry juice per day. Cranberries consist of natural bacteria-combating properties that do not allow the E coli bacteria to stick to the walls of the urinary tract. However, it needs to be kept in mind that more than two glasses of cranberry juice in a day can cause diarrhea.
If your child takes a bubble bath, it is to be discontinued immediately. Soaps containing fragrance and dyes can cause irritation in the genital area, favoring the growth of bacteria.
Tell the child not to hold the urine, as it will make the kidneys absorb the toxins and bacteria, which are to be released during urination. Urinary tract infection can be caused by absorption of these toxins and bacteria.

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