For the whole month of April, mummy visited the family doctor almost like every week..
1st week, was Baby having infection on his ear....
2nd week, was Baby caught the viral infection from mummy & jiejie....
3rd week, was Baobei got the urinary tract infection....
For next week, it will be the arranged appointment for Baby's 1st Jab...
2 nights ago while having dinner, baobei keep telling us she need to go pee, it was like 3visits within 30mins.. she also complained there is some pain when urinating.. After checked, there is some redness too... Popo asked if want to bring her to doc, as daddy is outstationed, and it was already 8plus, mummy thought to observe her for another day...
So baobei still proceed to go school the next morning and then mummy told the teachers to monitor her closely and call up if there is anything... happen to be with Aunty Aileen and mentioned to her about all the complaints which baobei has made, and she said it shld be UTI.. she also suggested to give cranberry juice before it get worsen.. So mummy quickly bought a bottle and pass it to the school for her to drink in school..
Last night, baobei still complain she having pain when peeing.. And worst she woke up 2x in the middle of the night to pee... this is the first time, she wakes up in late night to go toilet ever since she is fully toilet trained. The 2nd time when she wakes mummy up, it was too late for mummy to react and she just lose control and wet herself over the floor. it was 5am loh and so happen Baby is up for milk feeding..
Mummy 1st woke popo to help to handle baby.. and then she carried baobei to the toilet, clean her and change her to clean clothes.. Then use the mop to clean the floor, rinse the clothes.. it was too smelly loh... Sigh.. why all the bad things always happen when daddy is outstationed????
Took baobei to Dr Ivan, and based on all the symptoms described, he safely concluded it is UTI and prescribed her with anti-biotics..
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Written for BabyCentre UK Approved by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board
Source from: http://www.babycenter.com.sg/baby/health/urinarytractinfection
What is a UTI? Could my baby have one?
A UTI is an abbreviation for a urinary tract infection. Normally, urine drains easily from the kidneys and then it passes down tubes called ureters into the bladder, where it waits to be cleared through the urethra and into the baby's nappy. But bacteria can sneak into the urethra from the skin around the bottom and the genitals, or from the blood moving through the kidneys, causing inflammation at any point along the tract.
It is a common cause of infection or feverish illness in young children.
What symptoms could indicate a UTI?
It can be really difficult to tell if a baby has a UTI. If your baby is generally unwell with any of the following it could be caused by a UTI:
• fever
• vomiting
• tiredness
• irritability
• not feeding well
• not gaining weight properly
• jaundice
If your baby has any of the following symptoms then it is quite likely they have a UTI:
• pain when passing urine
• needing to pass urine frequently
• wetting
• tummy pain
• pain in the side
• unpleasant smelling urine
• blood in the urine (NICE 54 2007)
Should I call a doctor? What tests will he need to do?
It's important to contact your doctor if you suspect a UTI. If an infection is left untreated for a long time, it could move to the kidneys and possibly cause permanent damage. Babies under two years are more likely to suffer serious damage.
Fever in a young baby is unusual and is a sign that your baby could be very poorly. You should always contact a doctor as soon as possible if your baby is:
• under three months and has a fever of 38 degrees C or more
• under six months and has a fever of 39 degrees C or more (NICE 47 2007)
If your child has signs of a UTI, the doctor may need to collect a sterile urine sample to find out what bacteria is causing it. Your doctor may give you an absorbent pad to put in your baby’s nappy. The urine is then sucked out of the pad with a syringe. This can be done by you at home or at your GP’s surgery. Occasionally this will need to be done in hospital if it is really tricky. Older babies and children can wee directly into a sterile specimen pot (NICE 54 2007).
Sometimes a doctor will also refer a young child with a UTI for other tests, such as a renal ultrasound, to check the functioning of the kidneys and the bladder and to rule out other problems. This will probably happen if your baby is under six months old or has had several UTI’s (NICE 54 2007).
What's the treatment for a UTI?
Usually your baby will be prescribed three days of oral antibiotics to take at home. Most UTIs clear up one to two days after treatment starts. It is very important that your baby finishes the course of antibiotics even if he seems better.
If the infection is in the kidney (upper urinary tract infection) then your baby will need antibiotics for 7-10 days. If he is very young or very poorly he may need to be in hospital.
If your baby is under three months old or very poorly he will need to be in hospital and will probably be given antibiotics through a drip in his arm (NICE 54 2007).
Is there anything I can do to prevent infections?
Some children seem prone to these infections. But there are a few things you can do. Although most doctors do not believe that UTIs are caused by poor hygiene, it won't do any harm to make sure you always wipe from front to back when changing your baby's nappy. Most UTIs in babies originate in the urethra, from bacteria around the bottom. And make sure your baby gets plenty of fluids to help flush unwanted bacteria out of her system.
