UTI In Toddler Girl

Try not to worry. It happens sometimes. If she gets another one let them do an ultrasound. There are several different physical issues that can cause UTI's; and they are all relatively easy to diagnose and fix. But since she's only had one, I doubt there's anything wrong. Probably just wiping the wrong way after going to the bathroom. I used to get UTIs all the time when I was young, they had to put me on adult antibiotics because the kids ones didn't work any more. They never did find anything wrong with me, and they did all the standard tests, I finally just outgrew them.

1 mom found this helpful

I agree with being clean after going potty. Also, do not give her baths where she is sitting in soapy water that may not be getting rinsed off. My daughter and a friends daughter always got UTI's if they were in a bubble bath for any length of time. They love their baths, so what we did was got a hand held shower, let them help us wash their hair and body, rinsed off really well, rinsed the tub of soap with the hand held shower (they loved that part), and then put in the plug and had clear water baths. It has worked since we started doing it. Another thing; if you do swimming, shower immediately afterwards.

1 mom found this helpful

HI-

I wouldn't worry too much just yet. I've always been under the impression that UTI's are very common in small girls if for no other reason than they are still learning to wipe and keep themselves clean. So I wouldn't worry too much. It's most likely that it will clear up after this one and you'll never see it again. I know it's horrible when you have to put your little one on full blown antibiotocs though! If it does return don't be afraid to ask questions or offer suggestions. We had an experience with this that might be helpful to you in the case of a return infection. Our oldest daughter had UTI's like crazy for about a year before we were finally able to get it under control! She had one or two earlier on while a toddler but around 4 1/2 she got one that would not go away! We would do the test, they would give her the 10 days medication and then within a month of finishing it she would be screaming again and we would start all over. This literally went on for almost a year. About half way through they did an untrasound on her belly and couldn't find anything wrong. We tried several different kinds of medication thinking maybe it just wasn't responding to the others. I started reading up on UTI's and talking with other moms and had her drinking cranberry juice like crazy, avoiding too much sugar (which we tend to avoid anyway) made very sure she was wiping front to back, tried washing her underwear in different laundry detergent and put a screeching halt to baths and all soap that might have contained red dye. Nothing was helping. Finally they sent us to Pediatric Urology and had X-rays done and we spoke with a specialist. Nothing wrong there either. However, this doctor was willing to try something different and SO simple. He said that sometimes the normal round of medication didn't completely clear it up and that it would quickly grow back after the medication was stopped. So he had her take a regular round of medication then switch to half a dose for 7 days and finally, a very small dose, once a day for 30 days. It sounded like a TON of medication but I figured that the amount she had been consuming and would probably continue to consume if we didn't clear this up was worse so we tried it. It worked! We haven't had a UTI in a year and a half! Something so simple that I wish they had done sooner. She was miserable for so long. Anyway, there's our story. Again, this will probably clear right up but if not, you might try it. All that other stuff is great for prevention so it wouldn't hurt to keep your eye on soaps and things as well. Hope this helps and good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter was about that same age when she ended up with repeat UTI and bladder infections, that resulted in kidney infection. Come to find out she had reflux in her bladder, the valve/ureter between the kidney and the bladder was missing from birth. She had a surgey to have a ureter reimplantation. I would keep an eye out if it repeats it's self. The fact that we didn't catch it early has caused her to a have small kidney, it's growth was stunted from the damage. My daughter is very healthy now, but she is monitored on a yearly basis by a kidney specialist.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.~
My daughter was 9 months old when she was Diagnosed with a UTI. They had to do a cathader to get a urine sample. It was horrible. However the ultrasound and other test that goes along with it are worse... Everything turned out fine there was not deformity with in her bladder, kidneys and so fourth. It was very frustrating to put her through all of that. It was just a one time thing and hasnt happend since she is now 15 1/2 months old. If I were you I would push the fluids and make sure that this happens more then 2 times before you agree to the testing that they recommend.
Just so you know what can happen: they strapped her to a board head, arms and legs they had to put a cathader in her... inject her with this dye and take x-rays and she expelled the dye... 3 times they did this. I was pregnant (still am) at the time so my husband was in there with them, and he said that he will never put her through that again. The X-ray techs say generally it is so bad for the parents that they can't handle it and leave the room.
So please make sure you have exhausted all options before putting your daughter through that. Especially at her tender age.
I hope everything works out and the next test is negative. I will say a little prayer for you guys.
Cori

1 mom found this helpful

Hey M.!
My daughter (now 3 1/2) has had 2 UTI's. Like some of the other moms... I am sure she got it from wiping the wrong way!
You should not feel bad about your daughter getting a UTI... it just is one of those things that happens! Both my kids have been on antibiotics lots of times (mostly for ear infections). Give her lots of hugs and kisses. I always give my girls yogurt when they are on antiboitics. I know that some can cause yeast infections.
Just make sure that she is nice a clean every time she goes potty and you keep fluids in her to help clear out the infection.
Thanks,
MB

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter who nis now 36 had that problem to, We cut out bubble baths and tried swicthing over to showers which helped with the UTI's. Soaps cause so many of these UYI's. If they do keep coming back, DO get the other test the doctors suggest. I have always felt it is always better to be safe then sorry.

1 mom found this helpful

My uncircumcised boys had this issue as well. For them it came down to needing to be cleaned better *hangs head* and to drink more water(that part I didn't quite understand). So my fault, not knowing well enough how to make sure they were clean. The Dr. insisted it was due to not being circumcised, but that would not be an issue with a girl. I was so worried it could happen again that I would literally shower them with the hand held shower head at each dirty(not wet) diaper change until they were fully potty trained(about 3 yrs old) to be sure all feces was removed to try avoiding it happening again.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.,

Don't feel bad about it, girls get them more than boys. I have two boys who have never had one. And some girls are predisposed, but this may be a isolated incident that never happens again. The fact that she is 2 1/2 is good news! My daughter started having bladder infections as a infant (1 month old) and then UTI's. We have been UTI free for a year and just had another one about a month ago. She is 4 1/2.

We never did the Ultrasound, and I always wished we did! But we have moved twice during her little life and with drs. and moving, we just never had it done. We may still.

I would recommend it she has another one within a year. Its not painful. She may be a little scared, but you will be in the room with her. Just take a blanket(the rooms tend to be cold) and special toy.

I used to work in Radiology and helped with kids, its really not bad, just scary with all the equipment. It will help if the ultrasound tech shows her what her body looks like on the inside.

Good luck!
A.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi M.,

My daughter who is also 2.5 was diagnosed a week ago with a UTI si I definitely relate to what you are experiencing. She is fully toilet trained and that unfortunately is probably how she got it as she is very independent and likes taking herself to the loo and "wiping". It's so easy for girls to get them (although my 4 year old has never had one). I need to make sure she lets me know when she has done a poop and lets me assist her as I can reinforce wiping from front to back.

My daughter is due to finish her course of antibiotics in a couple of days and I too, am returning to the Dr just to do a test to make sure that the treatment was successful. I took her to the Dr. strongly suspecting a UTI as she was crying when she urinated, actually wet her pants once which was very unusual for her, as well as going to the loo with significant increased frequency, I knew something was wrong.

Cranberry juice apparently has properties that help keep UTI's at bay and my Dr suggested I give my daughter a small amount each day. Have a look around on the net and see what info you come up with.

Make sure she drinks lots of water to keep her system flushed, and if she is toilet training, that she knows how to wipe correctly (a long time coming in my experience!). Give her some yoghurt to add some good bacteria to her system as well to help with being on antibiotics.

Give yourself a hug!

Cheers,

1 mom found this helpful

I just wanted to let you know UTI's in girls are very common. Both my girls have had them, especially during potty training time because they are learning to hold their urine for longer times allowing the bacteria to grow. Since my oldest daughter refused to use public restrooms she had them alot! There are other things that can cause them such as bubblebath or sitting in the bath water too long. But sometimes it can be more serious so its good to hear your Dr is looking in to it. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

As others have said, Yes, UTI's are common. There is lots of advice on how to treat and avoid them, but the advice I want to give you is this:
Do Not Skip the 2 Week Follow Up Test!
I made the horrible mistake of doing that, and my daughter was the one who had to pay the price. I didn't realize how serious UTI's could be. I had been very careful about giving her the antibiotics right on schedule so when they were gone and her symptoms had ended, I assumed everything was okay. I didn't bother with the follow up. That started a horrible chain of events that actually ended a couple of months later with a 4 day Hospital stay and intravenous antibiotics!
Luckily, she was young enough at the time that she doesn't even remember it anymore- but I sure do! I felt like the worse mother on the planet! And I am not a neglectful or bad Mom, I was just uneducated. By posting on this board, it is obvious you are trying to educate yourself and that is great. I have also learned from my mistakes and read everything I can about everything now! lol
Just remember: no mater how inconvenient it is- or what else you have scheduled- Get That Follow Up Done! Make Sure The Infection Is Totally Gone! It will be well worth the hassle of the Lab visit, to avoid what we went through.

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter had the same problem when she was about that age also. She had repeat UTIs and then she was diagosed with a reflux problem. She had to have xrays or something because I couldn't be in the room (I was pregnant). The doctor prescribed medication for a year and then she was to do the xray/ultrasound again to check the progress. We were told that this was very common in girls and that most out grow it/don't have the UTI after a year. One of our nieces also had a UTI about the the same time as my daughter. My only problem/complaint was that the medication that they gave my daughter made her a very mean drunk. We were told that it would make her drunk-like, but she reacted worse than just drunk-like. We were able to request a different medication for the second check. I hope that this is helpful. After the worry and in talking to my sister in law, it wasn't really a big deal. Medication for a year.

1 mom found this helpful

I dont know if it is common but i am sure it does happen quite a bite, our daughter had one about the same age and it was from drinking to much of the pedia sure (crazy huh) she had a bad infection from it, she had to to meds and get checked, it was a hard process to see your little one go through in the begin and during, because they had to strap my baby girl done to fill her bladder but in the long run she had not problems and no more infection after that, but if you think about it as mother we take it hard seeing our little go through anything. It will be ok

1 mom found this helpful