UTI’s – Urinary Tract infections – What do you know about them?

@miamilady (4910)
United States
November 25, 2007 10:07am CST
I’m trying to figure out what to do. My daughter recently had a urinary tract infection. Actually she had a few. When she was little, she had two or three. Her doctor told us that Mr. Bubble was one of the biggest causes of UTI’s. We stopped using it. She had another one after that. Then we stopped letting her take bath’s altogether. She started taking showers only. She did not have a problem with them again until recently. She’s 15 now and is active in sports. Apparently when she went though some serious workouts her musces were sore and she decided to take a bath. She was very young when she had the problem before, so she didn’t remember why she had stopped taking bath’s. Well, sure enough she got an infection again. When she went through the first bout when she was little, her doctor, in addition to telling us about the bath’s, explained a few things to me and made suggestions. He explained that some people have a type of reflux in their urinary tract. He had me take her for an ultrasound, which was inconclusive. The next thing he suggested was another test which would involve a catheter. I remembered my brother describing the pain involved with catheterization after he has a car accident. I did not want to unnecessarily put my daughter though something so invasive or painful, so I decided to go against her pediatrician’s recommendation and just have her stop taking bath’s. I figured, if she stops taking bath’s and she doesn’t have any more infections, then – problem solved! When I brought her back to him, he prescribed an antibiotic and reviewed her records. He came across where she had gone through this when she was little and noted that I chose not to have her do that procedure. I know of several people who have recurring infections and simply treat them with home remedies or over the counter medication. Sometimes I don’t know weather to trust in doctors or not. Sometimes I think they want to do things unnecessarily in order to collect the insurance money. But, I hate to choose to ignore the doctors’ recommendation and then she have some further complication because we decided not to listen to the doctor. I have done some research online and there seem to be two different schools of thought. I know some of the home remedies and I was told about (and have given her at times) an over the counter medicine to treat it. Last time, she didn’t take a bath, but she sat in the tub with the shower running. I told her she can’t do that anymore either. If you have any experience or knowledge of UTI’s, bladder infections or kidney infections, please share your knowledge with me. Thanks.
2 people like this
12 responses
@musicman6 (2413)
• United States
25 Nov 07
My sister mentioned to me that she had this procedure done last year at the urologists office.She was having alot of problems with UTI's and it only took a few minutes in the examing room. The doctor numbed the area with a local anesthetic and it wasnt painful at all. Just talk to the doctor before the procedure and ask about a local anesthetic.They usually will explain the whole procedure before its done and give you the option to refuse it if you are not comfortable with it.
2 people like this
• United States
25 Nov 07
Thats a bummer for her. I feel for her. I get one every 6 months or so. No reason as to why though. I dont bath anymore now that im older. When you take a bath you sit in the dirty water which will find any hole it can to get in. Thats why she gets an infection. No more baths for her is a great idea. I have always just went to the doctor and got meds to take care of the infection. I have never heard of the peocedure you were talking about. I have had a cathiter 2 times and its not so bad. It hurts worse for men because there hole is small. They insert a tube into your bladder with a ballon on the end. The painfull {well more discomfort} part is when it has to come out. They deflate it as much as they can and then tell you to take a deep breath and pull. She will fell funny when she pees for a day but thats all. I would try the procedure to see if theres an underlying problem with her. I hope she gets better soon!
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
25 Nov 07
the best thing we have found to work with out all the doctor runs is to drink cranberry juice. always clears it up fo us and yu p some people juscant take baths on account of this infection . sometimes it could be the water.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
29 Nov 07
Following the birth of my first child I had many UTI's and worse, kidney infections. They were always treated with antibiotics and cleared up but they would recur. I was on the pill. My doctor suggested an IUD and following the use of same, my problems went away. I'm older now and have had some minor infections. I treated them myself with great success by putting a few drops of ti-tree oil in my bath. I'm wondering if something in her diet might trigger things. Sticking to showers seems like the best defense. Hopefully, she will grow out of them.
@mummymo (23706)
30 Jan 08
I have had a lot of problems with my 6 year old daughter and uti's, some very serious , ever since she was a baby. She HAS to have antibiotics for these as she gets really quite ill and has had to be hospitalised in the past and here they aren't after the insurance money as they work for our NHS. She was given a kidney scan which did not involve catheterisation - simply having a special dye injected into her and then scanning it going through her kidneys and she had to pee under the scanner too so they could see it leaving her, this test tests for reflux too. Luckily her results were not too bad but she will probably have to have it done again if she has many more uti's - she was about 4 last time it was done! I must say that if she uses any products in a bath she has a reaction but if she has a bath with just plain water that is not too hot it doesn't have the same outcome. I would urge you not to just leave this problem without further testing if it happens again - the kidneys can be damaged by these horrible infections and the sooner you find out , if this is the case the better! I do hope your daughter has no more problems as I know how awful they can be! xxxx
@MisterPlus (1915)
• Philippines
25 Nov 07
Girls are more common to this problem than boys. This is usually caused by bacteria E. coli, predisposing factors include poor hygiene, irritation from bubble baths, urinary reflux. I advise that you give your daughter lots of fluid 3 liters of water a day will do. It is important for her to wipe her perineum from front to back. Allow her to void in water to alleviate the painful voiding. That is all I share with you.
1 person likes this
• India
26 Nov 07
I have had many bouts of UTI and its fairly common in a hot and humid country like India. The causes of infection are many so I will not go it them. The reasons applicable here may not apply to you or your daughter. But I have always taken antibiotics as suggested by my husband (who is a medical representative). I have never been to a doctor and I am fine after one week of medicines. I firmly belief that most doctors these days rely too much on technology to augment both their own income and that of diagnostic labs. Anyway, hope your daughter has recovered now and is back in active sports comfortably.
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
26 Nov 07
If she is into athletics and has a lot of cramps and soreness she may not be getting enough hydration. Does she drink a lot of sodas? I had a bad bout a long time ago. The urologist put me of antiboitics and drink plently of fluids, especially crandberry juice. Candberry juice has a natural enzyme in it that helps. Yogart has good bacteria in it. Drinking a lot of clear fluids is one of the best things to do.
• United States
25 Nov 07
I don't know a great deal about urinary tract infections, but I'm sure you can get information on the web and you are entitled to get more opinions, don't rely on just one doctor with something that can have some far reaching consequences. Second opinions and even third opinions are a good thing. Maybe another ultrasound will give you something conclusive to work with this time....explore your options and don't be afraid to ask questions. Your doctor is not God and he should be able to give good reasons for any test or treatment he recommends. As far as insurance goes they have the option to not pay for any procedure they feel was not necessary.
@nica269 (1395)
• United States
28 Nov 07
I don't know much about it, but I do that you have to drink plenty of water and cranberry juice really helps clear it up. And I also know that baths are a def. no=no if you have a history of UTI's and or BI
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
25 Nov 07
My daughter had the reflux in her urinary tract when she was 5. Before she was diagnosed she had constant horrible kidney infections, she would have fevers of 105 degrees. She was a sick little girl. She ended up having her urethra stretched because her bladder was not emptying all the way and was very enlarged. She also went through all the tests that you discussed. It was painful for her, especially the first few times she had to use the bathroom. They also put her on meds. They said that the flap that is causing the reflux into her kidneys did not close all the way but it might heal itself as she grows. The meds would keep her from getting sick while they waited a year or so to see what happened. If it did not heal, she would need surgery. If it was not healed and she didn't get surgery she would end up with major kidney scarring and could end up on dialysis as a young teenager. She had another ultrasound done this year and it showed no scarring. They took her off the meds to see what would happen. She didn't get sick. She will be 7 in May and hasn't been sick in over a year. The doctor said that she is better and won't need surgery. She has had 1 UTI but the ped said it was probably due to either wiping wrong (considering she is only 6) or taking baths.
@elemental69 (1559)
• Ireland
26 Nov 07
Hi, I have also had a lot of UTIs. I think you should let her have the catheter done. I had it done a few years ago, and although it was uncomfortable it wasnt sore. Another thing is cranberry juice. It is a great cure for UTIs. As soon as I feel a UTI coming on I drink plenty of cranberry juice. It is a highly reccommended drink for all UTIs... :-)