Do I need to take her to A&E now!

[suchafuss]

DD aged 10 has a UTI for past 2 days. Took a sample in to Drs who refused to do a dip test as they are expensive even though she had antibiotics 5 days before for same. Not called me today and DD is now in pain. Given Calpol and loads of water but not sure if I need to take her to A&E. The AIBU is would I be to take her?

Also, does she use bubble bath? Have hot baths? Use coloured loo roll? All of these things will, without fail, cause me to have a UTI and end up with a kidney infection and anti-biotics. I cannot ever use blue/pink/green/cream loo roll, use any bubble bath at all and have to be very careful with hot baths. Worth a try?

If you've been treating it at home for two days with no success, PLEASE take her to the doctor before it hits her kidneys--it'll be MUCH worse then! I speak from experience.

I cannot ever use blue/pink/green/cream loo roll

I am somewhat envious you even have those over there. I haven't seen those where I live in decades.

Also, somewhat related, well... This will sound strange, BUT.

Until it's cleared up, if you can, take her off tap water, even if yours is filtered. Buy the cheap gallons of distilled water at the store and have her drink that instead. I had cats that had constant UTIs until I had a vet (at least the fourth one!) have me do that to start, and it cleared it right up.

So as a human veteran of bladder and kidney infections, when I got my next UTI, I took the same advice, and it seemed to help a bit. Since then, I find if one's nagging me, if I switch to cheap distilled water for a week and it seems to help me out a bit. Granted, my system isn't nearly as sensitive as my cats' were, but even if it's just a bit of psychosomatic relief--it's still relief, and it cost less than three bucks!

I do hope she feels much better soon. UTIs can be miserable things to have, be it pain or just that constant feeling of, "I think I have to pee, but I'm not really sure."

OP - This would be a good time to also check your DD's toilet wiping technique. It's important that she wipes from front to back onc, then discards the toilet paper. E.Coli (faeces bug) can transfer through 4 sheets of toilet paper (learnt this in Microbiology at uni) so can easily cause reinfection.

Elderly people often get UTI's from only using 1 sheet of loo roll repeatedly to save money.

once not onc

heyover I don't know where you live? but I where I am they bottle almost the same water that comes out the taps to sell to people (difference loch but water tastes the same!)
I can't believe that buying water in a bottle would make any difference to a UTI?

heyover said distilled water which isn't the same as just bottled water. Unless that's not what she meant!

Guidelines on when to take to a&e

I didn't realise there was a difference between distilled waters duchess bottled water... I thought they were two words for the one thing,

...off to google the difference now....

*distilled water and bottled water
No idea where duchess came from?

Duchess bottled water is really expensive and comes in a pearl and diamond encrusted bottle.

Distilled water has had nearly all minerals removed from it. Drinking it over a prolonged period wouldn't be good for you but maybe that's why? Nothing in it to irritate? I'm intrigued to know the answer. Bottled or distilled?

I hope you get somewhere with your dd today.

I had recurrent infections as an adult. They came every month with my and I was almost constantly on antibiotics. I was abroad and they sent off cultures maybe 3 times. I drank bicarb diluted in water for the acidity and reduce the pain. The only thing I found to stop it coming back was drinking pure 100% cranberry juice, I dont mean ocean spray, which is maybe 10% but that may also help (you can buy it online, maybe health food shops). I realise your dd is only 10 so she may refuse to drink either. Because I had recurrent infections, I was referred for an internal examination. Bladder was fine but my urethra isn't quite the regular shape, which is what explained the recurrent infections.

I wouldn't take no for an answer. And for me 5 days of antibiotics wasn't enough. I realise your dd is a child so I'm not trying to suggest I think she should have a long course either.

Oops - every month with my period

Not sure whether there are different types of distilled water, but the one I have at home is clearly labelled as "not for human consumption, do notk ingest", so I would not be giving that to a child.

Dr Google seems to imply that distilled water is OK to drink for short periods.

It also says you can't, of course, but mostly it says that it is safe.

Hope you get on okay with your DD OP. 5days of abs should really be clearing it up by now so she does need to see a doctor off some sort before the weekend.

Not trying to scare you but things can turn very quickly, I've just spent 3 days in hospital after being dismissed and kicked out on my arse last Friday. I ended up at the urgent care centre and a n e before a nurse doing a home visit insisted on admitting me back on to the ward. A lady on the same bay was sent home with a telling off on Sunday and told it was just the flu. Her GP sent her back and that flu turned out to be pneumonia and sepsis

DD (also 10) is susceptible to UTIs because of the meds she has to take and they can be incredibly painful. As another pp said the risk is that if it's left untreated or the abs she's on aren't affective. It can travel further upwards. Hope she's feeling better soon.

*effective sorry x

Thanks for all the comments. I managed to see the GP with her this morning. I got the usual 'nothing showed up with the dip test' but thanks to you lovely people I was able to state that they are not always reliable, that this had been going on too long and that she needs referring. New course of antibiotics and an ultra sound appointment coming out to us. Anything else I should be asking for?

Well done for fighting for what you needed! Prob not anything else to be done at the minute just wait for the scan. Is she getting refered to paediatrics or is the go managing it?

For future infections though i'd say it would be worth insisting that they send her urine for culture so they can check if she does actually have an infection. In a hospital we do this as standard for possible uti's but I know gps are less keen because of the cost. If she's having recurrent problems though it would be important for them to be able to say for decimate that she's had a bacterial infection and conform what antibiotics its sensitive to.

Do GPs really get billed if you go to A&E? I didn't know that.

Thanks so much for the advice. Didn't want to go to A&E but its difficult to know what to do for the best sometimes. The GP just said he would send her for the ultrsoud

At least she's getting the scan.

All I'd say is if she's on her second lot of antibiotics is to keep an eye out for thrush.

Oh we have the Canestan ready!

Please call ooh. I get them frequently and they go to my kidneys really quick if I don't get antib's or they aren't working properly.

I ended up in a & e due to me persevering one weekend. Poor mite. Get her seen.

Hope she feels better soon x