UTI / VCUG For 11 Month Old

Don't panic. My daughter had a few UTI's. They wanted to do all sorts of test because she first had 4 of them when she was in Korea in Foster Care... I think it was that she lived with an older couple and they didn't clean her real well. She came from Korea at 7 months old.. and didn't have another UTI until she was 4--- when she was wiping herself. they wanted to all kinds of tests... I said NO. If she had a problem then she would have had a lot more UTI's. She is now 9 and the only time she gets a little infection is when she uses bubble bath or doesn't wipe really good. Otherwise she has had no problems at all. She is totally fine. Sometimes it could be to much powder, or soap... or who knows.. see how she is.. if she doesn't get them all them time.. then she should be fine...Good luck

Hi D.,
My daughter had her first UTI around the same age....My pedi said the same thing...no real one cause...but he did say that bubbles and too much powder can cause them...also to be sure you wipe from front to back....My daughter is 3 and only had that one UTI...Hope this helps!!
Meg

We had a similar incident happen when my daughter was 9mo old and developed a UTI after using a hot tub. We were recommended to do the renal sono & VCUG (These are the newer recommendations by the Academy of Pediatrics- to screen for ANY UTI under 1 year of age.... so disreguard the overkill statements from some of the previous responses you got!) My husband fought me tooth and nail and felt the testing was unnecessary and medical overkill and was mad at me for taking her initially and putting her through the testing. Thank goodness I followed my gut and did the testing because she did have the VUR and was completely asymptomatic with her UTI with the exception of peeing green. Boy did my hubby feel horrible!
We had to go for the renal sono and the VCUG and she was diagnosed with VUR (vesico ureteral reflux) a common problem in children and something they usually outgrow. My daughter is now 4 1/2 and we go for yearly retesting and urology visits, she also does daily antibiotic prophylaxis since her original diagnosis. Our last visit shows that it is almost completely resolved and we should be able to come off treatment in a few months and her next visit if all is well, we are through with the yearly screenings.
GO FOR THE TESTS!! I know they seem cruel and horrible and believe me it's not fun being the one in there while your child is strapped down screaming as they are doing the test, but if your child does have VUR they will need to start daily treatment to prevent recurrences as the recurrences are what leads to permanent damage and scarring to the kidneys (if left untreated and they have a severe stage & enough damage is done- a kidney transplant would be needed in their teen years--- try living with that guilt all for the sake of a simple test for a disease that can easily be managed and prevent futher infections).

I hope the tests come back negative and that it was just a plain old UTI.... but definately go for the tests!!

UTI'S !!! I got them A LOT as a child. My doctor told my mother to make sure my underwear were clean and dry even if it ment changing them during the day. Also not to let me have bubble baths of any sort. He also cautioned her about letting me sit in the tub too long because the water gets dirty. I had a "run" of them and was told the next one would be hospitalization with IV antibiodics. Since your little one is so young I would say change her often and keep her dry and clean and avoid soap in her tub water and even letting her sit in dirty water for too long. If you want her to have time to play wash her then rinse the tub and put more water in and let her play for a short time. That way the water is clean.

UTI's can be very serious so I would be sure to give the full dose of antibiodics and not quit until its time because they will come back worse next time if not completely knocked out. Also so for the sonogram of her kidneys and bladder it won't hurt and may give you and Dr. more information to work with. As for the VCUG I would ask why the doctor wants to do that and get all the facts about what it is, what are the risks/side affects, and what information it can give the doctor and how will it determine treatment. If your doctor doesn't want to give you all the info you request so you can make an informed decision then find a new doctor or go to a specialist. Although a specialist (Pediatric Urologist I think) might be your next step. A.

Hi D.,
I feel that your doctor is being a little over the top by ordering all of these tests if it is a simple UTI and not a repetitive problem. I would call a urologist and ask if they feel all this testing is necessary for a baby with a first time UTI.
I'm 41 and when I was a kid, bubble bath was known for causing UTI's in girls so we've known this for a long time. If you've started using any new bath or diapering products lately, I would discontinue using them, and limit her genital exposure to any chemicals, perfumes or other products that could cause irritation.
Good luck@

I am familiar with the vcug as my goddaughter has had to have it done but she has suffered from UTIs frequently since she was little. It sounds very premature to do that with the very first one! I agree with you.

I would try switching bath soaps first. Stop using bubble bath per se. Instead, if you want bubbles, use the soap you are washing her with. Personally I use Arbonne's Baby Care line because it is very gentle with NO perfumes or oils. You need to look for that. Ignore the "all natural" blah blah stuff. Really look at ingredients if you are using anything other than Arbonne or Shaklee or something like that. The main thing is no perfumes or oils.

Also, don't use powder if you do. It can cause problems including asthma. If you feel like you really want something like that, use Caldesene. It's in a pink bottle and talc free.

Avoid her urethra area when using any diaper rash ointments if you do. Again, that is something I only use from Arbonne.

I would absolutely ask a second opinion before putting my 11 month old through that. :(

Good luck and trust your gut!! :)

L.

Hi D.. I remember very clearly having a UTI as a kid from bubble bath! I still remember my ped. looking at me and telling me that I couldn't use it anymore. So I definitely believe they can come from that.

I would also put her on a pro-biotic while she's on the antibiotic. They have children's probiotics. Whole Foods have a whole section of them and the people in that area are very knowledgable about them. Helped me out a lot the last time I was there.

Hope she gets better soon.

My daughter had a UTI at 7 months, and got the sonogram and VCUG. It is standard procedure, according to her pediatrician, my friend's pediatrician, and a nurse friend. It is to ensure there are no issues with the kidneys. Good to know these things early on.

As for the possible cause of the UTI, my pediatrician said that with infants, the urinary tract is SOOO close to the anal area, that infections are quite common. Unless it reoccurs more than once, I would not be concerned.

FYI, my daughter had no problems at all with the VCUG. Absolutely no signs of distress, pain, or discomfort. Just make sure you don't your child any stress over it.

My daughter had a vcug done when she was 5 after having about 6 uti's that didn't clear up with antibiotics. She did well, but unfortuately it didn't really show anything and we came away no smarter than we went in. My pediatrician wasn't sure why she was getting all those infections and when we ended up taking her to a urologist he told me that my daughter had really nothing physically wrong with her she was just holding her urine too long and then baceria would grow in the urine left in her bladder,he instructed no more antibiotics and instead putting her on a voiding schedule and making sure she was drinking enough water(not just fluids). It worked! Anyway my opinion is that if this is your babys first uti a vcug may be jumping the gun and I would probly get a second opinion from another qualified md before making that jump.

Hi,

If your daughter is prone to UTIs (as she seems to now be), I would not use any bubble bath and be sure to use soap and shampoo at the end of her bath so that the soap will not aggravate her symptoms.

I wouldn't worry about the x-ray too much. If the doctor recommends it, better to find a problem early rather than wait - or, hear that you have nothing to worry about. Best of luck!!

In my opinion, your doctor is overreacting quite a bit. When my first had a UTI, the doctor told us to change her baby wash to pure castille soap and add high dose cranberry supplements to my diet (I was still breastfeeding). The UTI cleared up without antibiotics and she hasn't had another in more than 7 years.

My son had a VCUG when he was an infant (3 months old). The test went well and he had no ill effect. The reason he had the test is because he had a condition call hydronephrosis (also referred to as pyelectasis)(which they picked up in pre-natal screenings.) He had a mild case and did not require surgery). He is a perfectly healthy 8 year old who gets the condition checked out every two years (just as a precaution and the situation has almost rectified itself) It tends to be more common in boys. Take a look at this website. Good luck! http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1117/mainpageS111...