Urinary Tract Infection
What is a urinary tract infection?
Your child can get an infection in the bladder or the tube
that carries the urine out of the body. The infection is
caused by bacteria and needs to be treated. Here are signs
you should watch for:
- Your child has pain when she urinates (pees).
- Your child has to pee right away and can't hold it.
- Your child has to pee a lot.
- Even when your child is awake, he wets his pants.
- Your child wets at night.
- Your child's urine smells bad.
- Your child has a fever or a stomachache.
How can I help my child?
- Give antibiotics. Your child needs to take the medicine
prescribed by your doctor to get better. Your child's
antibiotic is __________________. Your child is to take
_________given_____ times a day for __________ days.
- Give lots of water and fluids. Drinking lots of water
and fluids helps clear up the infection.
- Give pain and fever medicine. Give your child
acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) for the pain
or for fever over 102°F (39°C). No aspirin.
- Call your doctor. Two days after your child starts the
medicine, call your child's doctor about your child's
symptoms. You need to make sure your child is getting
better.
- Get a recheck. Your child will need another urine test 2
weeks after the first visit.
Call your child's doctor right away if:
- Your child has back pain.
- Your child starts to act very sick
Call your child's doctor during office hours if:
- Your child has a fever more than 2 days after taking the
medicine.
- It still hurts your child to pee 2 days after taking the
medicine.
- You have other concerns or questions.
Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.