Diagnosis
The diagnosis of the urinary tract infection is performed in a urine sample. It is important that the urine sample is taken cleanly so that it is not contaminated by normal (naturally occurring) skin germs, which are then mistakenly mistaken for pathogens. A urine stick (a small test strip) can be used to detect various substances in the urine sample such as bacteria, blood cells, inflammatory cells and breakdown products of the bacteria.
You can also look at the urine under a microscope and find bacteria there. In order to detect the triggering germ, a so-called urine culture should be made. This involves placing a few drops of urine on a culture medium and then observing whether bacteria grow there and if so, which ones.
Associated symptoms
The urinary tract infection in children is typically accompanied by so-called dysuria. This causes a burning sensation and pain when urinating. In addition, the urinary tract infection can cause changes in the urine stream.
This can lead to an increase or decrease in the urine stream during urination. A change in the color of the urine can also be an indication of the urinary tract infection in the child. In addition, the urine may foam unusually in the toilet.
In children who can already control their bladder emptying, urinary retention can also occur. Because of the pain when urinating, children refuse to go to the toilet, so that the urine accumulates in the bladder. This can lead to uncontrolled and unwanted urine loss.
Children who cannot yet express themselves clearly (in words) are often particularly weepy and flabby when they suffer from a urinary tract infection. In children, a urinary tract infection can also be accompanied by fever. If an inflammation of the bladder also occurs, pain in the lower abdomen (in the area of the bladder) also occurs.
In more severe cases, the infection can travel up from the bladder to the kidneys. This manifests itself as flank pain (on the side of the back), which can occur on one side or both sides. The children are often very flabby and weepy, they have no appetite and drink little despite fever.
Fever is a very unspecific symptom especially in children. Fever can occur with every infection, because the increased temperature is a very good measure for the body to fight pathogens.In urinary tract infections, too, the fever serves primarily to weaken the bacteria that cause the infection. If the children have a fever, they are also very tired, limp and cry a lot, they have little appetite and do not drink much.
Often they do not feel like playing and would rather lie down and sleep. Do you suspect a urinary tract infection in your child?
Pain can occur in different places depending on the severity of the urinary tract infection.
In the beginning, the pain is mainly felt when urinating. If the urinary tract infection moves further up to the bladder, the pain can also appear in the lower abdomen (where the bladder is located). If the urinary tract infection is complicated and the kidneys are also affected, flank pain can also occur. These are located at the lower end of the costal arch, at the side of the back.