URINARY TRACT INFECTION

Urinary Tract Infection Treatment in Jumeirah, Dubai

Overview

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a common and important clinical problem in childhood. Upper urinary tract infections in kids (ie, acute pyelonephritis) may lead to renal scarring, hypertension, and end-stage renal dysfunction. Although children with pyelonephritis tend to present with fever, it can be difficult on clinical grounds to distinguish cystitis from pyelonephritis, particularly in young children (those younger than two years).

Causes of UTI

Escherichia coli is the most common bacterial cause of UTI; it accounts for approximately 85 percent of UTI in children. Other gram-negative bacterial pathogens include Klebsiella , Proteus , Enterobacter , and Citrobacter . Gram-positive bacterial pathogens include Staphylococcus saprophyticus , Enterococcus , and, rarely, Staphylococcus aureus

coli, is normally found in stool ,it can move from the anus to the urethra and into the bladder (and sometimes up into the kidney) causing infection.

Risk factors — Some children have a higher chance of developing a UTI. The following are some risk factors for UTI:

Age — The prevalence of UTI is highest in boys younger than one year and girls younger than four years
Lack of circumcision
Female infants — Female infants have a two- to fourfold higher prevalence of UTI than male infants . This has been presumed to be the result of the shorter female urethra
Genetic factors — First-degree relatives of children with UTI are more likely to have UTI than individuals without such a history
Urinary obstruction — Children with obstructive urologic abnormalities are at increased risk of developing UTI
Bowel and bladder dysfunction
Vesicoureteral reflux — Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the retrograde passage of urine from the bladder into the upper urinary tract. It is the most common urologic anomaly in children. Children with VUR are at increased risk for recurrent UTI
Bladder catheterization — The risk of UTI increases with increasing duration of bladder catheterization

Symptoms of UTI

Urinary tract infections (UTI) may present with nonspecific symptoms and signs, particularly in infants and young children.

a)Younger children

History of UTI
Temperature >40ºC
Suprapubic tenderness
Lack of circumcision

b)Older children

Abdominal
Back pain
Dysuria, frequency, or both
New-onset urinary incontinence

Urinary Tract Infection Treatment

The goals of treatment for urinary tract infections (UTI) include

Elimination of infection and prevention of urosepsis
Prevention of recurrence and long-term complications including hypertension, renal scarring, and impaired renal growth and function
Relief of acute symptoms (eg, fever, dysuria, frequency)

Acute management of UTI in children consists of antimicrobial therapy to treat the acute infection and evaluation for possible predisposing factors (eg, urologic abnormalities).

Usual indications for hospitalization and/or parenteral therapy include

Age <2 months
Clinical urosepsis (eg, toxic appearance, hypotension, poor capillary refill)
Immunocompromised patient
Vomiting or inability to tolerate oral medication
Lack of adequate outpatient follow-up (eg, no telephone, live far from hospital, etc)
Failure to respond to outpatient therapy
Empiric therapy — Early and aggressive antibiotic therapy (eg, within 72 hours of presentation) is necessary to prevent renal damage. Delayed therapy has been associated with increased severity of infection and greater likelihood of renal damage

Consult the doctors at SHAMMA Clinic to effectively diagnose and treat Urinary Tract Infection for children. Book an appointment with our pediatrician today.