Constant urine infections in 7yo dd...help!

[girliefriend]

My dd has recently started suffering from urine infections, she had an episode 2 weeks ago of needing to wee every 5 mins and c/o pain when she went. Saw a G.P who gave her a course of trimethoprim for 5 days and it seemed to improve and then today she has come home from school with exactly the same symptoms again

Will take her back to G.P but wondered if anyone had any advice or ideas on why she would suddenly start getting them?

TIA

[sammisamsam]

it may be something other than a UTI. It could be because of several factors. You should go back to the GP.

Sorry to ask but have you asked her when she wipes downstairs does she do it front to back or back to front! (amazing how many kids don't know)

[girliefriend]

Hi thanks for replying, have just got back from G.P who said the urine sample showed up a 'couple of things' and has prescribed more antibiotics, she also said she would send the sample of for further analysis so hopefully might know bit more by end of week.

Poor thing is still saying it really hurts when she pees.

I have told her re the wiping thing but she is fiercely private about going to the toilet so have no idea what she actually does!! Also don't think she drinks anywhere near enough so am going to work on that as well.

Thanks again

[sammisamsam]

Poor thing the only thing i can suggest is cranberry juice if she can drink it!

[NotWilliamBoyd]

Oh no please do not give her cranberry juice if she is already suffering!

My understanding is that cranberry juice contains something helpful in promoting healthy waterworks , so lots of people drink a glass every day or take an extract as a preventative act but the juice itself is quite acidic so would make weeing even worse at the moment for your Dd. I think barleywater is sometimes recommended, or just lots of water.

Hope she feels better soon, it is horrid!

[girliefriend]

Hi thanks ladies. Kept her off school today and she has been o.kay but still c/o pain when she wees. Was also c/o a sore throat earlier so not sure whats going on.

Interesting re cranberry juice, knew it was meant to help but not not to give when you have an actual infection. Pretty certain she wouldn't drink it anyway as all she tends to drink is diluted apple juice and 'hot' ribena.

[girliefriend]

Will get some barleywater though and try her with that - thanks

[WidowWadman]

My daughter is only 4 but had a few UTIs, after the 3rd or 4th she was referred to the paediatrician for checks. Maybe worth asking about it? Might be something not quite right with her plumbing, which makes her more prone to them.

[girliefriend]

Thanks Widow, will see how we go after this one. She never had them at all until about a month ago and we are now on the 3rd episode. I am wondering if its the same infection that never completely cleared iyswim?

Am hoping its not going to be an ongoing issue as she also has problems with her hearing and is under the care of ENT so would loose the will slightly if it is.

Thanks for replying, does your dd have an underlying problem then?

[WidowWadman]

We don't quite know yet - her renal scans were fine, the next thing she's going for is blood tests, but if they don't show any results then it's likely just her being a bit odd without cause for worry (she's constantly having blood in her wee, without signs of infection, but this was only picked up because she had several UTIs before).

With the caveat that I'm not an HCP, I wouldn't be surprised if the recurrent UTI your child has might just be the same without ever having cleared up properly, when they're that close together. Have they done a test to see what antibiotic the bacteria are sensitive to?

[girliefriend]

Yes they have sent a sample off but don't think there will be a result until Monday although might ring later today just to check.

thanks for replying, I have kept her off school again today although she does seem okay in herself is still c/o pain when weeing. Will see how she goes over the weekend and take her back to gp if necessary Monday. Hope your dd is fine and it is just one of those things.

[Doratheinfuriatingexplorer]

I was going to ask if she drank a lot of blackcurrant but I see you've already said she drinks ribena - does she drink loads? I saw on embarrassing bodies a young girl who had recurrent utis because she only drank blackcurrant squash and it's apparently very bad for that! Long shot but worth mentioning!

[girliefriend]

Oh really? Thats interesting Dora, thinking about it I know of another little girl who will only drink blackcurrent and gets a lot of utis as well. I wonder why that would be the case? Also would be at a loss as to what to do to get dd to drink as its the only thing she will reliably drink

I wonder if its all brands.......

[squalorvictoria]

It sounds like it's the same infection never quite going away, if it's the third bout in a month and none prior to that. Same happened to me once - never had a UTI before, got one and it was back shortly after finishing the antibiotics. Got more antibiotics and was fine. Never had one since, touch wood!

[MERLYPUSS]

If you can get her to do it, make a bicarb and water solution up (1tsp to 1/2 tumbler, it is salty/asprin like though) with squash and get her to gulp it down. Maybe over the sink. The bicarb neutralises the acid wee. Then see GP.

[girliefriend]

Thanks, am totally depressed that it might be linked to drinking blackcurrent. Today have said she can only drink water and as predicted she has only drunk one glass - with much encouragement!

Not sure she will go for the bicarb idea - will give it a go though!

[poocatcherchampion]

I always find cranberry helps during a uti - it doesn't make it hurt more. and my fellow sufferers seem to concur.

also I find actimel types yoghurts seem to help in preventing so that might be something different to drink?

lots of experience here although inclined to agree its one that hadn't gone away.

[NotWilliamBoyd]

poocatcher (fab if alarming name, btw) - my comment about cranberry juice was based on what my GP told me about the research for it.

Could it have a psychosomatic effect during a UTI maybe? Glad if it works for you, I just know that I wouldn't be drinking anything acidic if I had an unhappy bladder (apparently I'm just 'prone to infections,' have had investigation but no cause was found).

[Doratheinfuriatingexplorer]

I have no idea why it was but the girl switched to water and was fine after that. I hope you're having more luck getting your DD to rink water now - don't want a catch 22 and her getting a uti not drinking enough either can you try weaning her off gradually or maybe there's a barley water she would like instead? Or hot orange is nice....

[Doratheinfuriatingexplorer]

Oh and I also find cranberry a great help

[girliefriend]

Thanks ladies, the urine result came back that she is on the correct antibiotics and she hasn't c/o it hurting when she wees today so also sent her into school with a note to her teacher explaining that she needs to drink more and could they encourage her as well.

Am going to def get some barley water and cranberry juice - had a thought that she might like that mixed with hot water (she prefers hot drinks to cold!!) Also she used to drink fruit teas when she was a baby (pfb!) instead of juice so maybe might try her with those again!!

Thanks for the ideas