Help! My Daughter Has A Urinary Tract Infection
Posted: Tuesday, December 08, 2009
by Abigail Richards
Parenting a girl is difficult. Between the drama and pressures of friends, it is not an easy task. Add to that the additional health complications and it is enough for any mother to run into the streets screaming!!
Urinary Tract infections can become a constant sore for little girls. As a mom whose daughter is on her third in three months, here are some tips to prevent the infections as well as survive during the infection.
Teach, Teach and teach how to wipe-Little girls have the hardest time learning how to potty train mainly because of the wiping issue. It is so much more difficult for girls then boys because the plumbing is on the inside so to speak. Girls must learn to wipe front to back. Practice on dolls. You need to remind them every time even when you think they are old enough to understand. My daughter's doctor said she even has 20-year-old women who do not know the proper way to wipe. It should always be front to back to keep the germs out. I know this is disgusting and blunt, but it is the only way to teach your daughter so that she is not getting sick.
Bath tub etiquette- We all know that bubble baths have to be done away with for girls. The chemicals in the bubble bath are just the instigator your child does not need. What I have also learned from talking with the doctor is that if you are allowing your child to bathe in a bath and then play, you are increasing their chances of infection. Let them play first, then wash so that they are not sitting in a tub of soap bubbles and dirt. Also, teach your daughter to clean properly. Bluntly, they need to open the area and clean. Then rinse well. Then dry well. My doctor says she advices little girls to use a blow dryer in the area after baths. Germs love to get up in the system and moisture just breeds the problem.
Drink, drink, drink-Kids need to drink a lot of fluids. Water is the best option, but flavored waters also work well. Kids need to be flushing their system continually because they come into so many more germs.
Cranberries-If you can get your child to drink cranberry juice, it has been proven to keep infections from happening. There is also cranberry pills these days. Ask your doctor for dosage for kids.
Make them go to the bathroom-Kids are notorious for holding it, especially girls. My daughter could wake up and not go to the bathroom for the first time until after one. Having it sit in the bladder is so dangerous. We schedule bathroom times especially when she first wakes up. We also take breaks during play time.
Dealing with an infection
Use the Bathtub-As a mom, we feel so helpless when our daughters are fighting through the pain. One solution to help is to allow your daughter to go to the bathroom in a bath filled with warm water. It takes the pressure away. Be sure to clean thoroughly!
Drink, Drink, Drink-This is a preventative, but it also helps when they are going through the infection. The system needs to be flushed out. My daughter refuses to drink because of the fear of going to the bathroom. Unfortunately, girls have to be forced, it is the only way to get better.
Ibuprofen-It is ok to give ibuprofen for the pain. It helps lesson the pain when they do have to go which helps with the first two suggestions.
Deep breaths and counting-I have my daughter take in a deep breath before she starts then count until the pain stops. This helps her be distracted from the pain. It helps me know if she is improving or getting worse.
Recheck- If your child is having more then a couple of infections, x-rays might be needed. Be proactive with the doctors. There could be a more serious problem. Also after completion of your anti-biotic, be sure and visit the doctor for a recheck test to make sure it is completely gone because the bacteria can still be in the bladder despite feeling better or there could be something else wrong.
These are just a few suggestions. I know those veteran moms have suggestions as well. Feel free to put them in the comment section below.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Ahh, I am so am tune with you and your daughter - I worked as RN in pediatrician's office for 10 years - your advice is great! Marijo
this did not help me much.and my daughter jessie does drink alot and all that good stuff bye
A child's self exploration with her dirty fingers can also be a generating septic problem; (E.G.one must teach little girls hand washing before and after any mouth, eye, rectum or vagina touching)
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