Urinary tract infection in baby can occur since newborn and sometimes it is not very easy to perceive its symptoms. However, treating it is essential to avoid further complications, such as kidney problems, for example.
To know what may be causing urinary tract infection in infants and children, click here.
Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection in Baby
In infants less than 5 months of age, the most common symptom is the refusal to eat from irritability. The baby may cry with hunger, but refuse to suckle or push the bottle, for example.
Symptoms of urinary tract infection in the baby include:
- The baby cry or complain when peeing;
- Urine darker than normal;
- Strong smell of urine;
- Lack of appetite;
- Irritability.
Sometimes the baby with a urinary tract infection may have only a fever or, in some cases, may have all other symptoms except the fever.
The diagnosis of urinary tract infection in a baby is made through the collection of urine. When you still wear a diaper, you put on a kind of bag for collecting urine glued to the genital area and wait until the baby pees. This urine test can also detect which microorganism is involved and is essential for proper treatment.
Treatment of urinary tract infection in a baby
Treatment of urinary tract infection in a baby is done by taking antibiotic syrups for 7, 10, 14 or 21 days depending on the microorganism involved. It is important that parents give their baby medicine until the last day, as directed by their pediatrician, so that the urinary tract infection does not return.
During this phase, it is recommended to offer lots of fluids to the baby and to change the diaper several times a day to avoid that the baby stays with the dirty diaper for a long time, which would facilitate the entrance of new microorganisms in the urinary tract.
Depending on the microorganism involved, the baby may have to be admitted to the hospital to receive the antibiotic through the vein. Infants less than 1 month old are usually hospitalized for appropriate treatment.
How to prevent
Prevention of urinary tract infection in infants includes some measures, such as:
- Keep baby clean and dry;
- Hygiene of the baby's inner region with a cotton swab with water or saline;
- Avoid wet wipes;
- Clean the girls' intimate area always in front-to-back direction to prevent anal micro-organisms from reaching the genital area.
Another important tip is to keep the exchanger always very clean, cleaning it with alcohol after each diaper change and take the same care with the baby's bathtub.
