Olympic Medical Center

The Painful Truth about Babies and Urinary Tract Infections

IN INFANTS' HEALTH

While you might think that bacterial urinary tract infections (UTIs) are only a problem for adults, you're wrong. By the age of five, almost 10 percent of girls and 2 percent of boys have experienced at least one UTI. While a UTI can cause obvious symptoms such as pain or burning with urination in older children, the symptoms in infants can be more vague. Sometimes, the only symptom of an infant's UTI is a fever.

The urinary tract is comprised of the parts of the body that help remove liquid waste (urine) from the body: the bladder, kidneys, ureters, and urethra. When bacteria enters the urinary tract, usually from the skin around the rectum or genitals, and infects any part of the system, a UTI develops.

When a baby or child develops a UTI, he or she can experience any of these symptoms:

  • bloody or cloudy urine
  • foul-smelling urine
  • irritability
  • painful urination (possibly indicated by crying)
  • vomiting and refusal to eat
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the majority of UTIs in infants go undetected because the baby has only a fever and no other symptoms. Approximately 5 percent of babies and toddlers who have a fever without other symptoms are eventually diagnosed with a UTI.

Because untreated UTIs can lead to permanent kidney damage or kidney failure, babies with unexplained fevers should always be tested for potential UTIs. Your pediatrician can collect a urine sample (usually by placing a plastic bag over a baby's genitals to "catch" the urine or by using a catheter) and perform a urine culture to check for bacteria. If the test comes back positive for the bacteria, an antibiotic can be prescribed to treat the infection.

With proper medical treatment, including prescription antibiotics, most UTIs will clear up within a week. Even if your baby seems to be feeling better, always complete the full prescription of antibiotics.

Constipation Happens

Because constipation, the difficulty or inability to pass stool, has been linked to a higher risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in infants and children, you want to do everything you can to prevent your child from developing this uncomfortable problem.

While breastfed babies typically don't experience constipation, it's not an uncommon problem in formula-fed babies. To help relieve constipation in your son or daughter, talk to your pediatrician about taking these tips from the National Institutes of Health:

  • Feed the baby one to two ounces of apple or prune juice.

  • If your baby is eating solids, include plenty of fruits and vegetables in the diet.

  • Sprinkle a teaspoon of bran on top of the baby's cereal.

Sources: www.babycenter.com, www.keepkidshealthy.com, www.kidshealth.org, www.nlm.nih.gov © 2013. True North Custom Media. All Rights Reserved.