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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask for help - daughter with UTI in France. Any advice please

28 replies

annie987 · 07/08/2018 05:24

We are staying in France for a fortnight and my DD who is 11 has what I can only assume is a UTI.
She normally goes to the loo three times a day but for the last 36 hours has been needing to go hourly. No pain or discomfort just needing to go. She has also wet herself every 3 hours or so during the night and she hasn’t wet the bed since she was 2!
Does this sound like a UTI? She’s never been affected before.

What do we do? I speak no french (other than asking for a wine!). Should we go to a pharmacy or a doctor? I feel a bit helpless! Thanks for any advice.

OP posts:

MrSpock · 07/08/2018 05:28

I’d see if there’s a doctor available. I would imagine enough French people speak English that someone will be able to translate or the doctor themselves may do? Perhaps go to a tourist info kiosk and ask if there are any surgeries that deal with tourists?

borntobequiet · 07/08/2018 05:32

Her EHIC card will allow her treatment at any public hospital/surgery.
IVU in French but any pharmacist should recognise UTI.

offupop · 07/08/2018 05:35

Get some potassium citrate. E.g. www.mollymojo.co.uk/mum/womens-health/cystitis/cystopurin-granules.html?fo_c=1573&fo_k=cf0edd6d9e6e4b24f888de74e5ab5896&fo_s=gplauk&utm_source=NMPi&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=COG3kcaO2twCFRPRGwodn7cDpQ&gclsrc=ds

MrsSchadenfreude · 07/08/2018 05:45

You can’t get potassium citrate in France. Try a pharmacy first - a lot of pharmacists speak some English and if they can’t help, will probably know of an English speaking doctor.

Original poster

annie987 · 07/08/2018 05:50

Thank you - will try a pharmacist first. Hope we can get something fast acting so she can enjoy the rest of the holiday.

OP posts:

bumblingbovine49 · 07/08/2018 06:09

If you can and have time download a translation app on your phone. These can really help with difficult words etc.

EllJ · 07/08/2018 06:16

Definitely get her checked properly when you get back too, or if at all possible whilst she's there. Has she been a lot more thirsty too? And does she have a 'sweet' kind of smell coming from her?

Biologifemini · 07/08/2018 06:20

Go to a French pharmacy
You can get several things over the counter for UTI in France and it means you avoid the doctor.
I have been given antibiotics there too for the same thing.

RoadToRivendell · 07/08/2018 06:25

Your poor daughter. I get them all the time. I got a magical over the counter pill in Germany once (no idea what) - get yourself to a chemist ASAP.

SpuriouserAndSpuriouser · 07/08/2018 06:32

For a first time UTI in a child I would skip the pharmacist and go straight to a doctor to get properly checked out to see what’s going on. A UTI in a child can turn serious a lot more quickly than in an adult, and anyway at the moment you can’t be sure it really is a UTI, there could be something else causing the symptoms.

Italia2005 · 07/08/2018 06:42

My best tip for UTIs:- Get her to drink a large full glass of water, i.e. not to constantly sip, so her bladder fills up more quickly and she can pass more urine at a time - she needs to help flush out the infection and dilute it until you get to a pharmacy. Constant sipping small amounts of water increases the constant peeing small amounts. I’d get her to do this every hour.
UTIs don’t always manifest with typical cystitis like symptoms (burning, stinging, etc.), the main indicator here is the frequency and also the loss of control.
The best thing is to keep her bladder filling and emptying to help the infection spreading upwards towards her kidneys.
If it IS a UTI she will probably feel pretty lousy for a few days, poor thing.
Hope you get her some relief.

NynaeveSedai · 07/08/2018 06:46

If she's not in pain then take her to the doctor because that doesn't sound like a UTI. You don't want to get the wrong thing.

EmilyAlice · 07/08/2018 06:46

I would start at the pharmacy and choose the biggest you can find. They will be quick to send you to a doctor and should know where you can find one with some English. French pharmacists are highly skilled and work closely with the local doctors. If it is a touristy place it should be reasonably easy.

frenchfancy · 07/08/2018 06:46

I would go to a pharmacy first if she is not in pain. Depending where you are in France finding a Doctor could be tricky, will almost certainly involve a long wait, and may involve a more involved examination than you would like.

You can get to a pharmacy this morning. They are very good and should be able to give you something. Take your phone and have Google translate ready. Its not perfect but it might help.

Italia2005 · 07/08/2018 06:46

I meant also to add I’d suggest you go straight to a Doctor and not waste time with a pharmacist as the first thing required is to test her urine if she has never had these symptoms before.

P3onyPenny · 07/08/2018 06:51

I thought for young girls you always had to go straight to GP for UTI as at greater risk of damaging kidneys. We’ve used a French gp before, not sure that it was covered by E11 but for a superb gp appointment and minor surgery in the middle of nowhere we only paid £60!!!! In and out in less than an hour after just turning up.Was way below our insurance excess. I’d ask for GP details from whoever owns your holiday rental.

EmilyAlice · 07/08/2018 06:55

If she needs a urine test that would not normally be done at the doctors. Medium to large sized towns have a local laboratory where all testing is done. It is a highly efficient system.
I live in France and would say pharmacy then doctor, unless you can get a direct recommendation to an English speaking doctor. I would not expect a long wait, but if you are very rural then it could be more difficult.
You will need 25€ cash for the doctor which can be reclaimed via EHIC.

Apehouse · 07/08/2018 09:40

Baking soda (levure chimique) from supermarket can help cystitis. If it’s a true UTI get to the doctor, Ciprofloxacine is the usual antibiotic here in France for that.

Notcontent · 07/08/2018 09:52

I would go to the doctor to have her urine tested as there is a small chance it's diabetes.

kikibo · 07/08/2018 10:02

I don't really know about French pharmacists as such, but most of them on the continent do not diagnose. I'd get to a doctor. They are bound to speak English. But if you want to be sure, go to your hotel reception or maybe the local tourist office. Surely they'll know one that does speak English.

wwwwwwwwwwwwww · 07/08/2018 10:10

Hi even if your not going to claim on your travel insurance they should be able to find you an English speaking doctor. Google translate is great in situations like this as well. If you are using your e111 make sure you are really clear about it and keep all the paperwork. I would 100% get her to a doctor.

MrsSchadenfreude · 07/08/2018 17:15

Levure chimique is baking powder. Don't buy that! You want bicarbonate de soude, which your pharmacy will sell you.

Original poster

annie987 · 07/08/2018 17:48

Thank you to everyone for your help. We have had an eventful day but now have antibiotics!

OP posts:

crispysausagerolls · 07/08/2018 17:48

she needs to drink an excessive amount of water continuously to flush out kidneys and bladder.
lack of pain or discomfort not in line with UTI
wetting self during night concerning.

Hope you have found a doctor OP

EllJ · 08/08/2018 17:47

How is she doing today op?

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