UTI in children: How to know, what to do
Urinary tract infections are very common in pediatric age group. It occurs in 3-5 per cent of girls and one per cent of boys. UTIs are much more common in uncircumcised boys.
Clinically it can present in the form of burning sensation while urinating or increased frequency of urination. But it may be asymptomatic in many cases which need high index of suspicion to diagnosis the condition.
Urine routine and microscopy is a good screening test in suspected cases but the diagnosis can only be confirmed by urine culture which should be done for midstream urine sample. In females, 75-90% cases of UTI are caused by E coli followed by klebsiella and proteus. All confirmed cases of UTI should be treated by antibiotics promptly. People should also emphasise regarding personal hygiene to prevent further episodes. Recurrent cases of UTI may need further workup and specialist opinion to rule out other etiology like reflux or bowel bladder dysfunction.
Treatment
promptly to prevent its possible progression to complication.
If the symptoms are mild or the diagnosis is doubtful, treatment can be delayed until the results of culture are known and the culture can be repeated if the results are uncertain, a 3-5 day course of therapy with first line anti-biotics is effective against most strains of E.coli.
In acute febrile infections suggestive of severe dose, a 14 day course of broad spectrum antibiotics capable of reaching significant tissue level is preferable. Children who are dehydrated are enable to drink fluids or in whom sepsis is a possibility should be admitted to the hospital for intravenous rehydration and intravenous antibiotic therapy.
Acute cases should be treated