Health Topics:
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
What causes a urine infection?
Urine infections occur when microorganisms, usually bacteria, enter
the urinary tract and remain long enough to cause inflammation and
other problems. It is thought that almost all urine infections are
caused by bacteria entering the urine channel (the urethra [you-ree-thrah])
and moving up into the bladder. Sometimes urine infections can move
up the tubes that drain the kidneys to the bladder (the ureters
[you-ruh-ters]) to cause a kidney infection.
How common are urine infections?
Urine infections occur in about 1/20 school age girls, but less
than 1/100 school age boys. Urine infections can occur in infants
and they are more common in infant boys than in infant girls.
How would I know if my child has a urine infection?
The symptoms usually associated with a urine infection depend on
the age of the child. Infants and very young children may have fever,
fussiness, decreased activity, decreased appetite or just a general
change in behavior. Of course, these same symptoms could be caused
by an ear infection, a viral illness or other diseases. That's why
an infant with any of the above symptoms should be tested to see
if a urine infection or any other type of infection is present.
Older children may have pain with urination, loss of urine control
(wetting), pain in the lower abdomen, fever or pain in the side
of the back. Sometimes a urine infection will cause blood to appear
in the urine. Sometimes children with urine infection pass urine
that smells bad.
What should I do if I think my child has a urine infection?
You should call your child's doctor to have your child examined
and to have his/her urine tested.
How are urine infections treated?
Most urine infections can be treated at home with antibiotics taken
by mouth. If your child's doctor prescribes antibiotics it is very
important that your child takes the antibiotics exactly as instructed.
That is the best way to make sure the infection is completely treated.
Occasionally, a child with a severe urine infection may need to
be admitted to the hospital for antibiotics given through an intravenous
line.
Are urine infections dangerous?
That depends on how severe the infection is an where it is located
in the urinary tract. An single infection that is present only in
the bladder may cause pain and difficulty controlling the urine,
but it would rarely cause any long lasting damage. A severe kidney
infection, however, may cause enough inflammation to cause part
of the kidney to be scarred. Children who have suffered many kidney
infections can suffer enough kidney damage to cause high blood pressure
and even loss of kidney function. Fortunately, that rarely occurs.
Will the infection come back?
About 1/3 of children who have had a urine infection will develop
another urine infection. That is why it is important to have your
child evaluated by your doctor.
Why would a urine infection come back?
Several factors can make it easier for bacteria to enter the urinary
tract and cause an infection. Irritation at or near the opening
of the urine channel can interfere with the body's natural defense
system and allow bacteria to move into the bladder. If a child doesn't
empty his/her bladder completely at urination, infection is more
likely to return. A child who empties his/her bladder infrequently
may be at increased risk for a urine infection. Constipation can
interfere with the normal function of the bladder. A partial blockage
of the urine channel, the kidney or the ureters can also make infection
more likely. Normally urine flows in one direction in the body:
from the kidneys, down the ureters to the bladder and out of the
bladder through the urine channel. About 1/3 of children who have
urine infections are found to have backwards leakage of urine from
the bladder up the ureter to the kidney. This is called reflux.
How can I protect my child from urine infections?
If your child has had a urine infection your doctor may recommend
an evaluation to see if something can be done to decrease the risk
of another infection. Your doctor may order an ultrasound exam of
the kidneys and the bladder. This is done to detect any enlargement
of the urine drainage system. Your doctor may also evaluate your
child's urination pattern (how frequently your child urinates and
how much comes out each time). Your doctor may order a test to look
for reflux (see above). This test is called a voiding cystourethrogram
or VCUG and it is the only test that can detect reflux.
In general, making sure your child drinks plenty of fluids (there's
nothing better than water), has good personal cleanliness and urinates
regularly are important ways to keep your child safe from urine
infections. If your child has had urine infection, it is very important
to follow your doctor's plan for evaluating your child's risk for
getting another infection.
Disclaimer
The information on the Loyola University
Health System (LUHS) Web site is for educational purposes
only. It is presented in summary form in order to impart general
information relating to certain diseases, ailments, physical
conditions and their treatments. The information provided
through the LUHS Web site should not be used for diagnosing
or treating a health problem or a disease, nor is it a substitute
for professional care. Should you have any health-care related
questions or suspect you have a health problem, you should
consult your health care provider. See also Copyright
and Disclaimer.
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