A common problem is urinary tract infection in children. It occurs more often up to 3 years due to their morphological and functional features.

Before the age of five, on average, two percent of boys and eight percent of girls fall ill at least once. Among infants, boys are more susceptible to the disease, and in the period from two to fifteen years, girls.

In pediatric urology and pediatrics, the diagnosis of UTI is in second place in frequency after viral diseases of the ENT organs. Without proper treatment, these diseases can lead to severe complications, including kidney failure and disability.

The urinary system includes a pair of kidneys that filter urine, a pair of ureters that direct urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and a urethra or urethra that carries urine out of the body. When a person is healthy, in all these organs the environment is clean, without bacteria or viruses.

Children's features

Newborns have features of the genitourinary system. Their kidneys are not yet fully formed, larger than adults and unstable. Until the second year, they can be felt with your fingers. Children's kidneys fully mature by the age of three to six years.

The lymph nodes in the kidneys and intestines are very closely connected, which contributes to the rapid spread of urinary tract infections in children. The ureters in young children are still weak and uneven. Urine stagnates and becomes a breeding ground for microbes.

The bladder is higher, its capacity in infants is within 50 ml, in a child per year it increases to 150 ml. The urethra in male infants is up to 6 cm long. Its growth occurs in leaps, accelerating during puberty, reaching an average of 14–18 cm.

In girls from birth to 16 years old, it grows from a centimeter to 3.3 cm. The proximity of the urethra to the anus requires special rules of hygiene.

The excretion of urine is an inborn reflex. From six months, it is already possible to help learn to endure and go to the toilet on time. A one-year-old child should already be asking for a potty. But even at 3 years old, a child can accidentally wet himself from strong emotions.

The essence of the disease

UTI in children is the unifying name for bacterial-inflammatory processes in the urinary system.

The manifestations of the disease depend on the site of the lesion.

Among the diseases of the urinary system in children, hydronephrosis (enlarged renal pelvis), infections, a number of kidney diseases due to metabolic disorders, and pathology of the bladder functions are most common.

Causing factors

In a child, the occurrence of infection in the urinary tract is due to the circumstances of infection, the microbial balance of the intestine and the general state of the immune system. Rod-shaped bacteria of the intestinal family are leaders among bacterial pathogens, up to 90% of cases.

It is also worth mentioning such enterobacteria as Klebsiella, Proteus, various gram-positive cocci, gram-negative motile microorganisms, etc. With frequent relapses and complications, a number of pathogens are detected.

The occurrence of an inflammatory process is associated with infections caused by chlamydia, mycoplasmas, ureaplasmas. At the same time, pathology of the mucous membrane of the vagina and vulva, foreskin and glans penis can be observed.

Factors that determine the occurrence of a bacterial infection can be:

• Prematurity.
• Chronic malnutrition and underweight.
• Violations of immunological reactivity.
• Low hemoglobin content.
• Background virus ("hand-foot-mouth syndrome", influenza, adenoviruses, herpes simplex).
• Disorders in the excretion of urine from the body. These are dysfunctions of a nervous nature, urolithiasis, protrusion of the walls of the bladder, backflow of urine from the bladder into the ureter, expansion of the renal calyces and pelvis, damage to the tissues of the kidneys by cysts, abnormal position of the kidney, defect in the ureter, narrowing of the foreskin in boys, adhesions of the labia in girls.
• Gastrointestinal pathologies: microbial imbalance, difficult defecation, inflammation of the colon, infections.
• Metabolic disease.
• Poor hygiene of the external genital organs, improper washing of the baby.
• Contact with infected lymph or blood during medical procedures.
• Female gender, third or fourth blood group.

Circumcision of the foreskin significantly reduces the risk of urinary tract infection.

When the baby is still growing in the womb, the excretory function lies on the placenta. But some urine is still formed in the renal pelvis. So its expansion can be detected even before birth with the help of ultrasound. Usually, the pelvis normalizes by one and a half years.

An excess of oxalic and ascorbic acid in the baby's diet can lead to metabolic disorders. At the same time, the content of salts in the urine increases, with the dissolution of which the kidneys cannot cope. In this case, a low-salt diet and plenty of fluids are necessary. Sometimes these disorders are due to heredity and are associated with nutrition to a lesser extent.

Since control by the nervous system in children is still in the process of formation, they may experience night and daytime reflex urination without the urge, the inability to have time to run to the restroom. It is necessary to regularly remind the baby of the need to pee so that the bladder does not overstrain.

UTI classification

The disease can affect the upper organs of the urinary tract: the kidneys (pyelonephritis), the ureters (ureteritis), as well as the lower ones: the bladder (cystitis) and the urinary canal (urethritis). Periodization of the disease can be primary and repeated.

It can proceed easily (moderate temperature, minimal dehydration, the child is being treated) or with complications (a jump in temperature, the child vomits, he is severely dehydrated).

A repeated episode may remain at the stage of an unresolved infection, the pathogen survives in the body without its active reproduction and metabolism, or re-infection after recovery. Symptoms can be bright, but the disease can develop and asymptomatically. Pathology is caused by viruses, bacteria or fungi.

Variation in the course of the infection

It happens that the disease in children develops asymptomatically. Urine analysis reveals the presence of leukocytes of a bacterial and non-bacterial nature, bacteria are detected in the absence of manifestations of the disease. This may indicate a hidden course.

The disease can be manifested by pain when trying to urinate, frequent going to the toilet, incontinence and incontinence of urine, unpleasant and painful sensations above the pubis. White blood cells and even blood can be found in the urine.

Problems with the kidneys and bladder can cause the baby to have a feverish state, intoxication. The pain affects the lower back, side, peritoneum, there are shootings in the inguinal zone and thigh from the inside. Leukocytes appear in the urine and blood, the leukocyte formula shifts to the left, and the erythrocyte sedimentation time accelerates.

Pathology picture

The disease can be localized anywhere in the urinary canals, so the symptoms are extremely variable. We need an integrated approach. Considering the symptoms of urinary tract infection in children, we will mention the most common and lesser known pathologies.

Pyelonephritis is a lesion by microorganisms of the kidney and its calyces and pelvis. At the same time, the temperature is over 38 degrees, the child cannot be forced to eat, he has a breakdown, pain in the lower back on the one hand, and urine deficiency. In infants, the disease can cause dehydration and even provoke jaundice. In early childhood, the problems of the upper urinary system in children can be confused with spasm of the pyloric part of the stomach, indigestion, muscle tension in the abdominal wall and intestinal motility disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, etc .; in older children - with a flu-like syndrome.

In cystitis, bacteria damage the walls of the bladder. The clinical picture is normal or subfebrile body temperature, there are no signs of poisoning, the pain is localized in the lower abdomen, radiates to the perineum. The kid is restless, often and little by little pissing, which causes pain, cannot feel the complete release of the bladder, sometimes it is described. Babies with cystitis have delayed urination, an intermittent stream, droplets of blood after the act.

Urethritis affects the urinary canal, is infectious, as well as non-infectious. Symptoms of the disease include burning during urination, itching in the genitals, blood, pus or mucus from the urethra. At the same time, the temperature is normal. This is more of a boyish problem than a girly one. Teenagers can also get urethritis through STDs.

With asymptomatic bacteriuria, microbes are sown in the urine in the complete absence of symptoms of the disease. More often girls suffer from it. Accompanied by cloudy urine and its unpleasant odor.

Nephrolithiasis among children is quite rare. The formation of stones is caused by metabolic disorders due to an imbalance in the diet or a violation of the outflow of urine in various pathologies of the development of the genitourinary system. The disease reveals itself as a sharp lumbar pain syndrome with shootings in the lower part of the peritoneum.

Manifestations in infants

Newborn babies and infants may be asymptomatic or exhibit odd behaviors, such as losing weight, vilifying, burping stomach contents.

Urinary tract infection in infants, due to the immaturity of kidney tissues and reduced immunity, almost never affects a specific organ, but is spread throughout the system.

If you notice any of the mentioned ailments in your baby's condition, contact your pediatrician immediately.

Establishing diagnosis

To successfully determine the infection, it may be necessary to examine several specialists: a pediatric urologist, a nephrologist, and a gynecologist. The collection of anamnesis and examination are supplemented by laboratory and instrumental diagnostic methods.

In the analysis of urine, the content of leukocytes, bacteria or blood should alert. More informative are laboratory examinations of urine, characterizing the condition, functionality of the kidneys and urinary tract. The ability of the kidney to accumulate and excrete urine is determined by the Zimnitsky test. In the blood, attention is paid to an abnormally high content of neutrophils, an acceleration of erythrocyte sedimentation, and an increased level of stress proteins.

Identification of the disease in children is based on a tank of urine culture with the definition of the source and its resistance to antibacterial drugs. It is correct to do it before antibiotic therapy. As a rule, the causative agent of infection in children is one. Sometimes urine is examined for chlamydia, ureaplasma, mycoplasma.

Blood serum is studied for the presence of certain antibodies or antigens, using the polymerase chain reaction method. The collection vessel must be sterilized.

The baby needs to be washed, urine collected a second after the child began to write. In case of difficulties, a catheter is used in a hospital setting. The diagnosis is justified with the simultaneous detection of pus in the urine, fever and chills, positive urine culture.

Without fail, ultrasound of the kidneys, vascular system, and bladder is done. Only with re-infection, children from three to five years old do an x-ray of the genitourinary tract during the period of symptom relief.

Kidney tissue is studied by introducing special preparations into the body and obtaining images of the kidneys with a gamma camera, either statically or dynamically.

An endoscope is used to examine the internal organs of the urinary system. Due to the pain of the procedure, general anesthesia is required. The activity of urine excretion from the channels is determined by measuring the rate of urination. Bladder pressure is also measured using a manometer to determine the elasticity and contractility of its muscular wall.

Disease differentiation

It is important to exclude misdiagnosis and identify diseases similar to a urinary tract infection. With inflammation of the vulva and vagina, female children have a fever, itching worries, the composition of the urine changes.

The urinary tract is irritated by the use of soap, shampoo, laundry detergent. Stopping contact with these substances usually helps. Infection with worms causes itching, changes in the urine. It can be determined by scraping the anus. In adolescents, it is logical to exclude pregnancy.

Treatment methods for the disease

Advances in the treatment of bacterial diseases make it possible to completely destroy the pathogen and restore the patient's health. Effective treatment for urinary tract infections in children requires a specific regimen for the baby.

Children under two years of age are treated in a medical institution, where droppers are used to administer drugs. For pain and fever, it is necessary to stay in bed and use NSAIDs, drugs for spastic pain attacks. It is important to choose a sparing and competent diet for the duration of therapy.

Treatment of urinary tract infections in children includes mandatory therapy with antibacterial drugs, an average of two weeks. Until the pathogen is identified, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used. The doctor calculates the dose based on the body weight, height and age of the small patient.

If the symptoms and general condition require it, the following are added to the therapy:

• antipyretics;
• vitamin complexes;
• herbal antibacterial agents to restore the environment in the genitourinary system;
• probiotics to normalize the intestinal microenvironment;
• taking large amounts of fluid orally or intravenously.

Phytotherapy is useless in the fight against UTIs.

Outlook and relapse prevention

Positively on the state of the genitourinary system of infants is breastfeeding at least up to seven months. Complementary foods should contain a sufficient amount of vegetables and fiber, as well as liquids, so that there are no stagnations and difficulties with defecation.

Pay attention to the crying and whims of the baby in infancy. Children with a history of kidney disease should not overcool, overwork, they are allowed physiotherapy exercises.

The fundamental condition for health is proper hygiene, immediate treatment of all sources of inflammation in the body, and the exclusion of provoking factors. Be sure to teach your kids proper self-care and cleanliness.

Strengthen the child's body by reasonable hardening with the sun, fresh air and water procedures. Maintain a normal flow of urine. Children from risk groups take prophylactic antimicrobial drugs and natural antiseptics.

During the period of remission or absence of manifestations of the disease, children are vaccinated. Diseases of the urinary system tend to recur in 30 percent of cases. So regular examinations by a pediatrician and a nephrologist are required.

According to the statistics of infection in the organs of the urinary system, it ranks second after SARS. Children in the first year of life are especially susceptible to them.

These diseases occur without visible symptoms, therefore it is very difficult to diagnose.

Consider the most common urinary tract infections in children, their main symptoms, causes and treatment tactics.

general information

Infectious microorganisms can cause inflammation in the kidneys, bladder, and urethra. They are very common in children under the age of 5, it is worth noting that girls are more susceptible to them than boys.

The prevalence of urinary tract diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms differs depending on the age group of patients:

• newborns and children under one year old - more common among males;
• from 2 to 15 years occurs in the majority of girls.

Normally, a healthy person maintains special sterile conditions in the urinary tract.

Sometimes UTIs are the result of poor heredity or pathologies during fetal development.

Varieties of microorganisms

The organisms that cause these types of infections vary by age group, the conditions in which they enter the body, and the immunity of the patients.

As a rule, enterobacteria, in particular Escherichia coli, are considered the most common.

Also, these are Klebsiella bacteria, Proteus, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus and many others.

In the acute form of the disease, one pathogen dominates, but when re-infected, there may be several at once.

Symptoms and signs of the disease

The most common symptom is pain during urination. Additional symptoms include:

• swelling on the face and limbs;
• pain in the abdomen;
• nausea and vomiting;
• increase in body temperature;
• change in color, density and smell of urine;
• the amount of urine excreted is very small;
• severe irritability in a child;
• sleep and appetite disturbances;
• feeling of intense thirst.

Also, all symptoms urinary tract infections in children, divided according to the age of the patient:

1. For children of the first year life, there is a deterioration in appetite, the appearance of vomiting and intestinal disorders, a slight yellowing of the skin, and an increase in body temperature. In some cases, neonatal sepsis appears.
2. For children over 2 years old age is characterized by an increase in the number of urination, pain in the lower abdomen, problems with urine excretion, and severe nocturnal enuresis. To these symptoms may be added fever and pain in the lumbar region.
3. In older children the kidneys may increase in size, the openings in the urethra may change, the urine stream during excretion is very weak.

Establishing diagnosis

To establish the causative agent of infection, a general and bacteriological analysis of urine is mandatory. Results, as a rule, become known within 5-7 days.

When analyzing blood, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate is also recorded.

After diagnosing the pathogen, it is necessary to carry out a reaction to its resistance to different groups of antibiotics (this is done in order to identify the most effective drug).

In modern laboratories, many tests are performed by enzyme immunoassay or polymerase chain reaction.

Examination under a microscope

This technique is not highly accurate; with its help, the probability of determining the pathogen is 80-85%. Under a microscope, a urine sediment is studied, which is obtained by centrifugation. You can find leukocytes, erythrocytes, etc. in it. This method is widely used in laboratories.

Using test strips

There are two types of tests: nitrite (detects bacteria) and to determine the content of leukocytes in the urine, its sensitivity is 90-95%. It is an express test and is very often used in laboratories to obtain a quick result.

The course of admission is from a week to two, depending on the phase of the spread of infectious microorganisms.

After that, it is necessary to pass repeated tests to make sure that the treatment is effective.

If the patient belongs to the age group after 12 years, then macrolide antibiotics are used.

Be sure to relieve symptoms using anti-inflammatory (Nurofen), antihistamines, vitamins and immunostimulants.

With various complications due to improper or untimely treatment, the child may need surgery.

It is carried out only in extreme cases, since in most infectious diseases of the urinary tract amenable to drug treatment (subject to timely access to a doctor).

Folk remedies

Traditional medicine helps to relieve unpleasant symptoms, but does not rid the body of the infectious agent.

The most commonly used are infusions and decoctions from plants such as immortelle, calendula, chamomile, St. John's wort, etc.

They help the bile accumulated in the body and relieve intoxication.

However, you should not get involved in traditional medicine in the treatment of children, this can cause severe harm to a small body. An important fact is overdoing a strict diet, which excludes all fatty, fried, spicy and salty foods.

You need to drink plenty of fluids (plain water or herbal teas).

Consequences of a UTI

With improper treatment of urinary tract infections in children, kidney failure, pyelonephritis develops. The latter, in turn, can cause the onset of an abscess process in the organ.

At the same time, a huge amount of purulent secretions is formed in the kidneys, and the body cannot cope with its functions. In all cases, surgical intervention is required.

Preventive measures and conclusion

In order to reduce the risk of developing a urinary tract infection, you need to:

• carefully monitor the hygiene of the external genital organs of the child;
• eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle;
• regularly take blood and urine tests for the timely detection of possible inflammation;
• strengthen the child's immune system;
• do not supercool the child's body;
• use diapers correctly;
• do not start inflammatory processes in the organs of the urinary system.

Unfortunately, today children are not uncommon. Very often it develops due to the inattention of parents to their child.

When the first alarming symptoms appear, you need to consult a doctor who will diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment. Do not neglect the health of your own baby, as this can lead to irreversible consequences.

Children can also get an infection of the genitourinary system, since the cause of inflammation is improper care for the baby or the penetration of the pathogen into his body.

Genitourinary infection in children manifests itself in different ways, since the symptoms depend on the form of damage to this system. The cause of the pathology is infectious and non-infectious factors, as well as infection of the mother's reproductive tract during pregnancy. To establish a diagnosis and choose the right methods of treatment, you need to do a series of tests and undergo an examination.

Microbial inflammatory diseases occur at any age. Urinary tract infections are more common in girls. The reason for this is the location of the entrance to the vagina near the anus, which reduces the path of some pathogens from the intestines to the urinary canals.

Due to the fact that the urethra is connected to one of the sections of the reproductive organs, over time, even infants develop concomitant sexual infections. These are vulvovaginitis, balanoposthitis, vulvitis, similar inflammations. Pathogenic pathogens affect the mucous membranes of the genital tract and organs, and doctors associate the infection itself with mycoplasmosis, chlamydia and

Forms of diseases of the urinary system in children:

• pyelonephritis;
• cystitis;
• urethritis.

In pyelonephritis, bacteria affect the renal tissue and the pelvicalyceal system. The disease is primary acute and chronic, as well as secondary, which develops against the background of other pathologies.

Inflammation of the lining of the bladder is called cystitis. The infection can be acute or chronic. With urethritis, the inflammatory focus is localized in the walls of the urethral canal. The disease is more common in boys. The form is acute, chronic and total, when all parts of the urethra are affected, including the bladder neck.

Causes of urinary tract infection in children

The causative agents of diseases are ureplasmas, mycoplasmas, trichomonads, enterobacteria, viruses (herpes and other species), gonococci, staphylococci, streptococci, fungi, proteus, E. coli, Klebsiella. The pathogen enters the genitourinary system of the child with blood, lymph or through the external genitalia.

If a woman has contracted type II herpes or another pathogen during pregnancy, the infection can enter the baby's body through the placenta or during birth.

Inflammation in a child also begins against the background of congestion in the pelvic area, allergies, vesicoureteral reflux, urinary tract motility disorders in infants and older children, kidney or gastrointestinal diseases. Pathological causes also include the abnormal development of the fetal organs during a woman's pregnancy.

Indirect causes of urinary tract infections:

• hypothermia;
• injury to the urethral membrane (burn, passage of stones or sand from the kidneys, bladder, instrumental examination of the canal, insertion of a catheter, etc.);
• decreased immunity;
• helminthic invasion;
• heredity;
• prematurity;
• side effect of medications;
• irregular personal hygiene procedures.

Babies are more susceptible to infection if they are weakened by diseases of the respiratory and digestive systems, or during pregnancy, the mother suffered ARVI, influenza, BBVI.

General symptoms

Among the common signs of inflammation in a baby, anxiety, crying for no reason, uncharacteristic movements during urination, deterioration in general well-being, loss of appetite, and sleep disturbance are described. Otherwise, the symptoms of urinary tract infections in children are similar to the clinical picture of the disease in adults.

Symptoms characteristic of the disease

Pyelonephritis is accompanied by intoxication, chills, temperature above 38 C, pallor of the skin, pain in the head, abdomen and lower back, digestive disorders, frequent regurgitation or vomiting, diarrhea. There may also be signs of neurotoxicosis:

• excitement;
• convulsions;
• dysfunction of the mechanism of thermoregulation (hyperthermia).

In infants with cystitis, symptoms such as crying and writhing of the body during urination, a temperature above 38 ° C, retention, cloudy urine and the appearance of blood or sediment in the fluid occur. Older kids tell or show that it hurts in the lower tummy, he writes down because he cannot restrain himself.

Other dysuric disorders include a small volume of urine, muscle tension in the suprapubic area, incomplete emptying of the bladder.

With urethritis, there is no intoxication and fever. With inflammation, the urogenital membranes swell, begin to itch, pain appears during urination, blood in the urine. Later, white mucus or pus is released from the urethra. Girls complain of pain in the lower abdomen. The acute form of urethritis is accompanied by vasodilation, fragmentary damage to the urethral wall, or tissue death. Chronic inflammation leads to narrowing of the lumen of the urethra, canal.

Diagnosis of urinary infections

To confirm the pathology, it is necessary to do an ultrasound of the genitals, kidneys, bladder, donate blood, urine for a general analysis. Before collecting urine, the baby is washed, wiped dry. Parents can download a lesson on the topic “How to properly collect urine from a child to diagnose genitourinary infections in ppt format so that the results are reliable.”

Laboratory analysis of urine:

• Zimnitsky test;
• according to Nechiporenko;
• bakposev on flora;
• antibiogram;
• biochemical.

The results of a general urine test show an increase in leukocytes by more than 50%, the presence of ppt (precipitate - sediment). Leukocytosis, accelerated ESR are detected in the blood, anemia is possible. Additionally, they can be directed to ureteroscopy, urethrography, voiding cystoscopy.

Treatment of genitourinary infections in children

Therapy is carried out with antibiotics Cefepime, Cefuroxime, Cefoperazone and other cephalosporins of I-IV generations. However, Ceftriaxone has a side effect - the medicine can cause jaundice. The attending physician may also prescribe a combination of drugs or substances Ampicillin / Sulbactam, Ampicillin with aminoglycosides (Amicin, Gentamicin), Amoxicillin / Clavulanate, Co-trimoxazole.

For genitourinary infections, uroantiseptics Nitrofurantoin, Furamag and other nitrofurants, Kanefron are used. The doctor also prescribes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen, and antihistamines Loratadine, Clemastin, and other desensitizing drugs to reduce severe symptomatic manifestations.

In chronic urethritis, immunostimulating drugs, enzymatic and absorbable agents are also prescribed, physiotherapy, local therapy are used, introducing drugs into the canal.

If the child has no contraindications to taking herbal remedies, he is given a urological collection, tea from lingonberry leaves, and a decoction of sage. As anti-inflammatory drinks, infusions of mint, linden and elderberry flowers, rose hips are taken.

Conservative therapy for genitourinary infections is recommended to be combined with physiotherapy and traditional medicine methods. This is dry heat on the lower abdomen, electrophoresis, UHF, sitz baths with a decoction of chamomile, string, calendula and sage. The water temperature should be 37°C and the procedure should last 15 minutes.

With genitourinary infections, foods that irritate the gastrointestinal tract should be excluded from the diet: spicy, salty, sour dishes, spices. It is advisable to double the daily volume of fluid consumed (still water, compotes, fruit drinks), which will improve the process of washing out the pathogen from the urinary apparatus.

After recovery, a monthly control urine test for a general analysis (3-6 times) is recommended. If the disease manifested itself more than 2-3 times, the child should be given an additional examination for the presence of other pathologies against which the infection develops.

Conclusion

Lesson for parents: the best prevention of genitourinary diseases in a child is the regular observance of the cleanliness of his body, the use of children's hygiene products. To exclude inflammation of the membranes in newborns, women need to be examined, and possibly treated, even before conception. During pregnancy, it is recommended to visit the office of a gynecologist-obstetrician in a timely manner and not be zealous in the use of intimate hygiene products so as not to provoke inflammation.

The urinary tract is the system for removing urine from the body. They begin in the kidneys and include the renal pelvis, ureters, bladder, and urethra (urethra). Genitourinary infections - an inflammatory process in various parts of the urinary tract. Recognize infections of the upper urinary tract and lower urinary tract. Pyelonephritis and pyelitis belong to the first category. The second category includes urethritis and cystitis. What are the symptoms of the development of a bacterial urinary tract infection and methods of treatment?

Pyelonephritis- infectious bacterial inflammation of the kidneys. Inflammation can be only one or both kidneys. Distinctive symptoms of this disease: high fever, back pain, intoxication of the body. If pyelonephritis is not treated, kidney failure or kidney abscess will develop.

ureteritis- penetration and multiplication of bacteria in the ureter.

Pyelitis- Infectious disease of the renal pelvis. It can be in acute and chronic form. In children, the acute course of the disease predominates. Caused by bacteria such as E. coli, staphylococcus aureus.

Urethritis- an inflammatory process in the urethra caused by the entry of pathogenic bacteria into the sterile environment of the urethra, most often E. coli. Symptoms of this disease are: a sharp smell of urine, painful urination, vomiting, pain in the lower abdomen. Urethritis can also be caused by an allergy to laundry detergent or detergents. In this case, no treatment is required, it passes with the exclusion of the allergen.

Cystitis- bacterial inflammation of the bladder, characterized by frequent painful urination, cloudy urine with an unpleasant odor, may be accompanied by fever. Sometimes cystitis can be caused not by a bacterial infection, but by a tumor or stones in the bladder.

Causes of urinary tract infections in children

Diseases of the genitourinary system in children occur when pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria enter the sterile environment of the urinary tract. Most often it is E. coli, which can enter the child's urogenital tract from the anus. Possible infection with staphylococcus and Klebsiella. There are also a number of causes of inflammation:

Urinary infections develop more often in girls due to the structural features of the body. In girls, the anus and genitourinary system are closely located, in boys the urethra is longer, respectively, the possibility of bacteria entering the upper urinary tract is less.

For children of different age groups, the picture of the disease is different. Typical signs of a urinary tract infection in children of all ages:

In newborns and children of the first year of life, symptoms may differ from typical signs. Young children may often spit up, refuse to eat, become moody, show signs of intoxication and increase in temperature to your 38 degrees.

Sometimes the only symptom of bladder inflammation may be a fever. Infection in this case is determined only by bacterial culture of urine.

Diagnosis of urinary tract infection in children

For a correct diagnosis, a pediatrician can refer a small patient with their parents for a consultation with a nephrologist or urologist. Sometimes a girl needs to visit a gynecologist. Must pass general analysis of blood and urine. In the blood test, the inflammatory process will be visible in two indicators: ESR and leukocytes will be increased. In the analysis of urine, a genitourinary infection in children is indicated by the appearance of protein, erythrocytes and a high content of leukocytes. If necessary, they take a urine test according to Nechiporenko and a bacterial culture of urine to identify which bacteria caused the inflammation and their sensitivity to antibiotics.

Also, when an infection is confirmed, it is prescribed to conduct Ultrasound of the kidneys and urinary tract. X-rays are prescribed only for re-infection or frequent relapses of the disease. Endoscopy allows you to determine the presence of anomalies in the structure of the genitourinary system.

Narrow specialists can visually distinguish an infection of the genitourinary system from certain diseases, with similar symptoms:

Vulvovaginitis- inflammation of the vagina in girls.

Enterobiasis - infection with worms.

Balanitis- a disease of the foreskin in boys and the vestibule of the vagina in girls.

Appendicitis- the picture of the disease may be similar to inflammation of the urinary tract.

After confirming the diagnosis, treatment of the urinary infection begins. If the condition of the sick child is mild or moderate, then the treatment of inflammation can be done at home, when the child is a newborn or infant and his condition is severe, treatment in a hospital is necessary.

The main remedy for curing urinary tract disease is an antibiotic, which must be taken in a course of at least 10 days. Young children are prescribed the drug in the form of a suspension, older children in the form of tablets. As a rule, broad-spectrum antibiotics are used. To prevent intestinal dysbacteriosis, prebiotics are prescribed in parallel with taking an antibiotic. Uroantiseptics are often prescribed - antimicrobial drugs to quickly remove bacteria from the genitourinary tract.

Not the last role as an aid is played by diet. Young patients need to drink a lot, limit the use of foods containing a lot of acid, such as oranges, grapefruit, tomato. There are also restrictions on salty, smoked food, canned food.

Prevention of urinary tract disease in children

In order to prevent primary infection or recurrence of urinary tract infections in children under one year old, several rules must be observed:

• Breastfeeding helps to quickly build immunity in the child.
• With the introduction of complementary foods, you should not immediately give a lot of new products, as an intestinal infection may begin due to the immaturity of the gastrointestinal tract.
• Children should be given clean water to drink. It helps to empty the bladder in a timely manner.
• Observe the rules of hygiene. If the baby is in a diaper, it is necessary to change it in a timely manner. If the child is in underwear, then it is changed daily.
• Avoid hypothermia.

If an infection occurs, it is urgent to visit a doctor and start treatment.

Older children need to monitor personal hygiene, change underwear, avoid hypothermia, and do not sit on a cold surface. Parents need to ensure that the underwear is in size, not tight. Due to too tight underwear, there may be stagnation of blood in the pelvic organs, which can lead to inflammation.

One of the most common causes of childhood illness is urinary tract infection in children. Most of all, this is observed in children under the age of one, who need full care. When infected, patients do not always show symptoms, but serious complications often occur, which are difficult to cure. How to determine the presence of the disease?

General information about the disease

Infectious inflammation of the urinary tract in children most often manifests itself without symptoms and is detected during a comprehensive examination of the patient. In diseases of the urinary system, the body quickly succumbs to infectious effects, as a result of which the kidneys become inflamed in the child. To examine the child for infection, a general urinalysis, ultrasound is prescribed. After the study, the baby is prescribed a treatment complex, which includes antibiotics and uroantiseptics, which are supported by traditional medicine.

Reasons for the development of pathology

Very often, the cause of the development of pathology is Escherichia coli.

Inflammation of the urinary tract in childhood occurs due to various harmful microorganisms. Which infection will spread in the body depends on what gender the child is, how old he is and what condition his immune system is in. The most common microbes include enterobacteria, among which Escherichia coli is more often found. Other factors in the occurrence of diseases of the urinary system can be:

• urodynamic disorders (ureteric reflux, malfunctioning of the bladder);
• reduced efficiency of the immune system (due to the production of a small amount of antibodies, cell immunity decreases);
• disturbed metabolic processes;
• changes in vessels located in the renal tissues;
• abnormal structure of the organs of the reproductive system, congenital anomalies;
• spread of infection in the genitals or intestinal environment;
• the appearance of worms in a child;
• surgical intervention in the urinary tract.

According to statistics, the disease is more common in patients under one year old, however, depending on gender and age, there are different incidence rates. Most often, the pathology is diagnosed in girls due to the fact that their urinary canal is close to the vagina, and the female urethra is much shorter than that of men. Girls most often get sick at the age of 3-4 years. Infection of the genitourinary system in infants is more typical for a boy. In this case, inflammation of the urinary tract in a child occurs due to the abnormal development of the genital organs. In addition, the reason for the appearance of a urinary tract infection in infants may be improper care.

Factors contributing to the development of infectious inflammation

Infections can be dangerous if the immune system is weakened.

There are many predisposing factors that cause bladder infections in children. Among them are disturbed normal urinary outflow, obstructive uropathy, reflux of the bladder and urinary tract. Pathology develops due to a deterioration in the functioning of the immune system, impaired metabolic processes, and also manifests itself in patients with diabetes mellitus, renal calcification. Also, infections can get into the urinary tract due to medical interventions, after which harmful microorganisms are able to multiply more actively.

Classification of harmful microorganisms

According to the prevalence of inflammation, there are microorganisms that have affected the upper sections of the excretory system (kidneys, ureters) and the lower sections (bladder, urethra). Thus, if the upper sections are affected, pyelitis, pyelonephritis is diagnosed, and if the lower ones are infected, cystitis, urethritis. Depending on the period of occurrence, the disease occurs in the first episode or recurrent. The disease is sometimes reinforced by secondary infection. Looking at what symptoms appear in the patient, a mild and severe infection is isolated (complications appear, it is difficult to tolerate).

Symptoms of urinary tract infections in children

Symptoms appear depending on the age of the small patient. In children under the age of 2, fever, vomiting, diarrhea appear, the shade of the urethra changes, and the skin turns pale. Newborns have no appetite, they are naughty a lot, cry and become irritable. In patients aged 2 years and above, pain begins during urination, the urine is dark in color, the lower abdomen hurts, and the body temperature rises to 38 degrees and above.

Features of the manifestation in the baby

Inflammation of the genitourinary system of infants may be asymptomatic.

In infants, infectious inflammation of the genitourinary system manifests itself to a greater extent without signs: temperature indicators practically do not increase, intoxication, gray skin, lethargy, and anorexia may occur. If a patient has acute bacterial cystitis, then his temperature rises above 38 degrees.

Diagnostic measures

Laboratory methods of examination

Bacteriological method for the study of urine

The bacteriological method is the main one when examining a patient for the presence of genitourinary infections. Such a study allows you to determine the type of harmful microorganism, as well as the level of its sensitivity to antibiotics. To have accurate results, you must adhere to the rules for conducting the examination, as well as have sterile instruments.

General urinary analysis

Another, no less reliable way to study a patient is a general urinalysis. With it, you can determine the number of leukocytes, erythrocytes, as well as the protein level in the urine. In the case of elevated rates, they speak of the occurrence of inflammatory processes in the organs of the urinary system, including in the kidneys and in the bladder.

General method of blood testing

To determine the infection, you need to take a blood test.

To determine the presence of inflammatory processes in the urinary system, a general blood test is performed. Using this method, you can detect an increased leukocyte level, high ESR and changes in the leukocyte formula. Often, inflammatory processes are characteristic of the development of pyelonephritis. For urethritis or cystitis, inflammation is less common.

Instrumental diagnostic methods

Ultrasound as a method of examination

Ultrasound is allowed to be performed regardless of age. Using the ultrasound examination method, it is possible to see the real size and condition of the kidneys, determine the stones in the urinary system, assess the volume of the bladder, as well as the presence of inflammatory processes in it. Ultrasound makes it possible to determine the abnormal development of organs in the early stages.