Symptoms of urinary tract infections in children Urinary tract infections in children are second only to respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis as a common disease in pediatrics. The symptoms of urinary tract infections in children are not the same as those in adults, because children are limited by their ability to express themselves and cannot tell adults clearly what is uncomfortable, so they can only be judged by some symptoms. Because children can’t express pain and discomfort, they tend to show it by crying and having a poor appetite. Symptoms such as weight loss, delayed yellow bile, cloudy urine with a fishy smell, high fever, unexplained vomiting or diarrhea may also indicate a urinary tract infection. Infant boys are more likely to get urinary tract infections than female babies, but after the age of three, female babies are more likely to get urinary tract infections. Older toddlers or school-age children have symptoms similar to those of urinary tract infections in adults, such as frequent urination, difficulty urinating, and back pain. A few children may not have symptoms, so it is important not to assume that if they don’t have symptoms, they are fine. Causes of urinary tract infections in children The main route of infection for urinary tract infections is for E. coli or other miscellaneous bacteria to enter the bladder or even the ureter or kidneys through the urethra, and the cause of infection in children is often related to congenital urinary tract abnormalities. About 50 percent of urinary tract infections in children under one year of age are combined with urinary reflux disease. This is a congenital malformation of the urinary tract. Minor cases of urinary reflux will heal naturally as the baby grows older, while severe cases of urinary reflux can be cured with surgery. However, since babies with urinary reflux disease are prone to malformed nephritis, which can cause damage to kidney function, it is important to return to the doctor regularly after the diagnosis is confirmed, even if surgery is not required. Treatment of urinary tract infections in children Treatment is not simple and requires a urine test to find out if the infection is present. If a child has a high fever or chills, he or she will usually need to be hospitalized after the diagnosis is confirmed and receive intravenous antibiotics. Additional oral antibiotics will be given afterwards for a total of 10-14 days before the child is cured. Because urinary tract infections in young infants can easily spread to the kidneys, and pediatric kidney infections often cause crusting or even atrophy of the kidneys. According to a recent study, once kidney crusting occurs, about half of the people will have hypertension by the age of 30. Therefore, after the symptoms are controlled, kidney ultrasound and other related tests are usually arranged to not only insist on the occurrence of kidney complications, but also to find out whether there are any congenital abnormalities or deformities in the urinary system. During a urinary tract infection in children, if oral antibiotic treatment is needed, parents should not think that the fever has gone down and the symptoms are relieved that the disease is cured. Antibiotic treatment has a certain course of treatment, and in the absence of allergic reactions, it is important to finish the medication prescribed by the physician on time, so that the germs do not become resistant to the antibiotics, causing repeated infections in the baby and even causing irreversible effects on the kidneys. If your child is allergic to the antibiotic he or she is taking, seek immediate medical attention and discuss the follow-up treatment plan with the physician. The use of prophylactic antibiotics has been controversial in the recent past, so please discuss with your primary care physician before using them. In general, long-term use of prophylactic antibiotics is still recommended for people with high urinary reflux to protect the kidneys. In terms of home care, children with urinary tract infections need to drink more water and go to the bathroom more often than healthy children, as well as a nutritious diet and adequate sleep. Children who are still in diapers need to be changed more often than usual, and children who are potty trained need to be reminded to go to the bathroom at all times. If your child has completed potty training but then wets the bed after an infection and needs to be diapered, moms and dads don’t have to be too anxious, as babies often have regressive behaviors when they are sick, so be more tolerant of them and give them enough security. The best recipe for urinary tract health care for kids Drinking more water and holding less urine is the best recipe for health care for both adults and kids. If children don’t like to drink water, it helps to let them drink more soup or juice rich in vitamin C. Mom and dad can first use three times diluted juice as boiled water, and gradually reduce the concentration of juice in the case of children can accept, so that children slowly get used to drinking plain water. Also, drinking more cranberry juice may help reduce bacterial adhesion and prevent urinary tract infections. Most urinary tract infections in children are related to hygiene habits. For female babies, cleaning after urinating and defecating should be done by wiping in the direction of the urethra to the back of the anus to avoid bringing the E. coli around the anal opening to the urethra; and male babies should also wash their genitals thoroughly in the bath to avoid invasion of germs. If you can’t clean it, you can consider using steroid creams to make the foreskin fade down to facilitate cleaning, but you must consult with your doctor about the way and dosage to use. In addition, both male and female babies should develop the good habit of drinking more water and not holding urine from an early age, and mothers and fathers should not be too hasty in toilet training so that children do not have a fear of going to the toilet.