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The following symptoms may indicate an infection:
- Painful urination
- An urgent need to urinate
- Frequent urination
- Foul-smelling urine
- Fever
- Stomachaches, especially in the lower abdomen
- Vomiting
- Daytime and nighttime wetting
- Dribbling
If your child experiences one or a combination of these symptoms, contact your pediatrician right away. A urinary tract infection must be treated with an antibiotic to be cured. In addition to an antibiotic, extra fluids will help clear the infection. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help to ease painful urination or fever over 102°F.
A second urine culture is recommended two weeks after your child’s initial visit. About 50% of girls who have had a urinary tract infection will develop a second infection. Therefore, your child’s pediatrician will most likely re-check her urine 1, 4, and 12 months after the first infection clears..
Uninary tract infection may be prevented by the following:
- When bathing, do not wash the genital area with soap. Water will suffice.
- Do not put bubble bath, shampoo or other soaps into the bath water. Do not let a bar of soap float in the water.
- Limit bath time to 15 minutes and have your child urinate after bathing.
- Teach girls to wipe from front to back, especially after a bowel movement.
- Drink plenty of liquids in order to keep urine light-colored.
- Encourage your child to urinate every 3 to 4 hours during the day.
- Only buy loose fitting cotton underpants for girls.
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