Advice...13month Old 4th UTI

[LSarge2]

Hey Everyone,

I don't usually post much on here but I am so worried and am lost of what to do. My daughter is 13 months old and is on her 4th UTI in 3 months. The doctors have scheduled her a UTI but not till the 23rd. I am taking her to the doctor this morning because I know she has one again. (she gets fevers of about 103 -104) when she gets them. I just feel like her little body should not be having all those antibiotics in such a short time. Some people say I should push to get the ultrasound done immediately because this many UTIs is not right in such a small child. I guess I am just looking for some advice, what you might think is wrong, what you would do.. anything...her appt is at 11 am today.

Thanks in advance everyone!

[nothingfancy]

I'm not sure how much investigating you have done....

Do you think the UTI's are being caused by things like bubble bath, soap, or wiping incorrectly (need to wipe front to back)? Are you potty training, could she be holding it in? What about constipation?

If you've ruled out the above, the doctor should at the very least do a urine test.

A helpful preventative of UTI's is cranberry juice (even mixes like cran-apple). It can help prevent bacteria from sticking to the bladder. Best wishes.

[Natalka]

Oh, that's awful - definitely investigate further. It's bad enough having the infection, but that's a very high fever for a little one.

One of my sister's girls went through this - and unfortunately, she wasn't changing her diapers often enough, such a simple thing... don't know if she was lazy or trying to save money....

[LSarge2]

She has Excema as well, so I never switch laundry soap or bath soap. It is strictly all natural and unscented. and yes wiping front to back all the time. The last time she had a uti (3 weeks ago) the doc booked her for an ultrasound on the 23rd of this month. He said its unusual for something like this to keeping happening. She has cranberry juice usually everyday. I am just worried for her to be on antibiotics again. Seems like so much for her little body. and her fevers get so high. as well as I am worried what could really be wrong when the doctor said its unusual.

[LSarge2]

And i change my daughters diapers as soon as a know its wet or dirty. usually 1-2 hours. because I am so worried about her getting UTIs..im just worrying like crazy...

[Mrsb07]

Because of a medical condition I have (spina bifida) I get UTI's almost every month. I've asked the doctor and pharmacist about being on antibiotics so often. They've both assured me that as long as I'm taking them properly (finishing the bottle) and am off them for a week or 2 in between that there is no problem. Don't frett about all the antibiotics but keep pushing to find out why. There is a reason for frequent UTI's so they need to find out why. Hope she's better soon and you have answers. Give her lots to drink too, if she'll drink more. It really helps to flush it out.

[Natalka]

With the last one being such a short time ago, it seems that particular antibiotic didn't do its job - doc should be switching meds already to something stronger. Sounds like a bugger just underlying there, waiting.... (the infection, not the doc!)
Hope you get some answers soon!

[nothingfancy]

Better to treat the UTI with antibiotics than not treat it. The ultrasound should be able to tell you more. Easier said than done, but try not to worry.

[parisprincess]

Being on antibiotics too much causes yeast overgrowth (candida). Taking probiotics help. (I always take the probiotic capsules, as in the ones you buy at the health food store that are kept in the fridge.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antibiotic_candidiasis

Not sure if a child that young can take probiotics but perhaps you can ask your doctor about yeast and probiotics when you see him next.

[seventhwave]

I was just going to ask if you are sure it's not caused by something else..

My midwife was adamant that we don't clean inside her labia unless she is having a bath, it's too easy for bacteria to get into there and cause a uti.

If LO is super sensitive it could be caused by bubble baths, lotions, laundry soap etc, maybe being in her diaper too long if it doesn't have good stay dry lining?

poor baby... that must be terrible for you to watch

[bargain_hunter_lola]

I know as a baby/child I was prone to UTI's and there didn't seem to be a cause for them, other than I didn't drink or pee enough.

I went to the doctors a lot and had the ultrasounds and other tests and they all said the same thing, nothings wrong with you.

I agree with the Cranberry juice, it tastes awful (at least I think) but it really cleans your system and makes you pee. Maybe that's what she needs. Try diluting it with water and getting your DD to drink it and see if that helps.

Good luck with your little one, UTI's are not fun.

[secheltsaver]

I'm glad your doctor is doing an ultrasound and further investigation.You don't say if he's has sent a urine sample for culture and sensitivity(to find out what bacteria there are,and what antibiotics will kill it)so I'd push for this first.Sometimes doctors will prescribe a drug that usually works for most UTIs in order to get relief for the patient asap,but there may be resistant bacteria or multiple organisims present.Urine samples can be collected from babies non-invasively by using a special stick-on collection bag placed inside the diaper,often takes a couple tries but better than taking an in/out catheter specimen.
I won't tell you not to worry,b/c you're a good mom,I know you'll get it sorted out soon.

[Midnightly]

make sure it's pure cranberry juice (not punch) but i'm sure you know that.. there could be a chance it's a food allergy.. some foods can cause the body to produce more yeast or more acidic urine (could be too much sugar-even natural sugars, too much breadlike foods, too much citrus)

[Sally888]

Has he changed up the antibiotics? Some are very resistant and wont be getting rid of the infection.
Has he done a urine culture? If not he cannot know for sure thats what it is, plus it helps them know better which antibiotic to prescribe.

[LSarge2]

Hey Everyone! thanks for the great advice. My daughter is on Antibiotics again. They did a urine culture. The doc said it is safer for her to be on them if she needs him. I just have to wait under a week now for her ultrasound and if it turns out she has Reflux? (where the urine apparently goes back up too) then she has to be one a daily dose of antibiotics until she grows out of it. He believe this is what she has, he also said if that is what she has there is nothing one could do to prevent the UTI's. However, I also work with a herbalist and so yesterday I asked him his opinion. He doesn't believe it's Reflux. He thinks that the first antibiotics were never strong enough to kill off the infection and now have created some kind of superbug that has become resistant to it. This worries me extremely. She has been on 2 types of antibiotics. He also told me that when one does have a UTI cranberry juice doesn't help because it creates a barrier over the infection. One should drink cranberry juice after the infection has cleared up to keep a barrier so the infection doesn't happen again. i found that interesting since i have never heard of that. So anyways, i guess we will play the waiting game until her ultrasound. In a way i hope they find something that can be fixed, because it is so hard to watch her in this pain. Thanks again everyone!