Urinary tract infections are almost always caused by bacteria, especially E.coli, which is normally found on the
skin around the bottom and comes from the bowels. Infections can occur anywhere along the urinary tract, from the kidneys
to the urethras, the bladder or the urethra.
Predisposing factors include not going to the toilet often enough (causing the bladder to enlarge), hurrying in the toilet
and not emptying the bladder fully, constipation, inflammation of the vulva (girls) or damage to the bladder nerves.
In some cases there is some form of structural abnormality that predisposes the person to infection. One of the most common
is a condition called vesicoureteric reflux, which affects the way the ureters join the bladder, allowing urine to flow back
up towards the kidney.
Girls are more vulnerable because the urethra is much shorter than in boys and bacteria can pass easily into the urinary
tract. Children under the age of five are particularly vulnerable to scarring of the kidney.
Symptoms
In younger children and babies, there may not be any specific symptoms, simply a feverish, irritable or drowsy child who's
off their feeds, vomiting or has diarrhoea. In older children, typical symptoms include fever, shivers, pain passing urine,
the sensation of needing to pass urine frequently, pain in the abdomen or loins, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Treatment
You must take you child to see the G.P. if you suspect a urinary tract infection as the infection is confirmed by examining
a sample of urine. Treatment is usually with antibiotics and plenty of fluids to flush through the urinary system.
In severe cases, or with small babies, hospital treatment may be necessary.
