How do I find a Paediatric Urologist?

[AtheneNoctua]

DD (6) has recurring UTIs. It has been going on for about a year. Have been to GP, referred to paeditricain, discharged back to GP and now on long term antibiotic (nitrofurantoin). But, she wets herself all the time and I'm thinking a general paeditrician is perhaps not most appropriate specialist. So I want to go back to the GP and ask for a referral to a paediatric urologist. I have looked on drfoster.co.uk and didn't come up with much.

I want this doctor to be female, which is probably limiting my choices a bit. But, DD will not want to drop her pants for a man (understandably). And I want this doctor to specialise in paeditric urology not just urology -- prefer a specialty in UTIs.

Am I asking too much? (I don't really care if I am to be honest. This has gone on for a year and it's time DD get's some results)

Oh, shold have mentioned where we are. Anywhere in Greater London (preferrably to the West) would be okay.

There is are urology clinics at Great Ormond Street and Evelina Children's Hospital (Guy's and St Thomas')

I'm not sure how you go about specifying a female doctor, but you could phone them and ask.

www.eric.org.uk

helpline will have details.

Thank you!

I kicked up a fuss, supported by the school nurse enuresis service, and had dd refered to a paediatrician at our large teaching hospital (Royal Berks). She diagnosed and treated dd's urinary problems very satisfactorily. You may not need a urologist. What you may need is a very determined attitude because drs often refuse to refer children for wetting issues under the age of 7.

We have been to a paediatrician. We got antibiotics which appear to have solved everything BUT frequent peeing in her pants. She has stopped wetting the bed at night, no more fever, no more pain just to the inside of left hip (and quite low), no more pain when she goes for a wee. I liked the paediatrician. But, she is now on maternity leave so I can't go back to see her anyway. But, what I am thinking is that we need a doctor who specialised in UTIs and not one that just specialises in children.

urologist is a surgeon therefore most are male(shouldn't be but are) and not appropriate person anyway. you want a general paediatrician who all see loads of kids with utis, or a paediatric nephrologist

But, I thought a nephrologist specialised in kidneys, which are much less of a concern than the bladder.

Is a nephrologist a surgeon?

I don't need a surgeon. You are right. But I do need a doctor who specialises in the bladder... if there is such a doctor.

While a lot of consultants are male, they ofen have female staff working for them. My DD12 has been seeing a male Paediatric Urologist (and sometimes his female registrar). They have never once checked her private bits. She sounds like she has similar problems to her daughter. The physical checks were ultrasounds of her bladder which can be done with knickers on.

I would insist on seeing a Paediatric Urologist, don't bother with anyone else as it's gone on long enough. My DD is now doing really well with help from the hospital.

recurrent UTI's are NOT a surgical issue. You need a medical Consultant Paediatrician.

If you go to your GP and ask them to refer your DD via Choose and Book, you can choose your consultant. Your GP practice should be able to tell you what gender the consultants are.

Nephrology is a primarily medical speciality and therefore not surgical.

I work in a hospital. All of our paediatric UTI/continence patients are seen by the Consultant Paediatricians.

Nephrology do not get involved, not do Urology or Paediatric Surgery

Oh, I am so confused now. I have made an appointment to see GP a week from Monday. I am going to ask her what kind of doctor we should see now. I did find one pediatric urologist who mention childood UTI as a specialty and who is female in London. Maybe I'll show up with er name in hand.

And my DD is asked to remove her pants, but just so they can look for discharge and see if the skin is red and irritated. Oh God, she would kill me if she knew what I was typing on the internet. Poor DD. I just want it to be cured. She is certainly learning how to talk about embarrrassing things.

Recurrent UTIs in children may well be casued by an abnormality in the kidney or ureta (tubes from the bladderr to the kidney)
A paediatric urologist is a sensible referral and your daughter would benefit from a scan to make sure she doesnt have rrenal reflux. There is a really good paediatric urology service at great ormond sstreet. My son had renal microsurgery as a day case and it cured it. Ask for a referral. It needs to be properly investigated as long term infection can cause reanl damage

paediatric nephrologist?

that's the job title of the chap DD is seeing tomorrow with regards to her recurrent UTIs.

Is there any particular reason your 6yo cannot see a male urologist (anything difficult in her past, for instance?). Just wondering because my dd (at 8) didn't have any problems with this at all.

(and come to think of it, I've never had problems with seeing a male gynaecologist either).

Just wondering if this is a problem you know your dd will have or one you think she may have iyswim. I expect it can be arranged but it may mean delays in finding a doctor.

There is nothing in her past, except that when we went to the paediatrician she had two male intern there and DD said they could not watch when she was asked if they could. I think at 6 little girls are aware that they don't show their bits to boys and she is very uncomfortable about the whole thing already. So I'd like to avoid unnecessary discomfort for her. But I now realise my options for a femalee doctor are going to be rather limited. So, I'm not going to insist on this because I wouldn't want it to delay the already appallingly slow NHS.

Intersting thread. My DD has recurrent UTIs and frequent wetting and we off to doctors this afternoon because I think she will need long term antibiotics now - she gets New UTIs within days of finishing previous course of antib's. She has had a scan of kidneys/bladder and no problems so was wondering whether I should be pressing for paediatric appt. Like your situation Athene I think new antibiotics will solve UTIs but doubtful about wetting because it's been going in so long and isn't always linked to infections and I had no idea what to do next.

GL Athene, it must be so worrying for you. Whatever the gender of her doctor, I hope your dd will get the treatment she needs.

How old is your DD, wingandprayer?

Your situation does sound much like ours. I think the frequent wetting is either a result of an infection which is present or is the result of damage cause by a previous infection (which is of course worse as it might indicate permanent damage).

She has been on nitrofurantoin for months now. It works until she comes off of it, which makes me think the antibiotic is not curing it but just keeping it at bay.

AND... she now has some coughing and complaining that she can't breathe which I stupidly brushed off earlier this week as a cold. But, of course then remember this is one of the side effects of long term nitrofurantoin which is more worrying than a cold. It seems mild... but I'm a bit nervous about it. So obviously long term nitrofurantoin is not really workable.

you can go to one anywhere in the country..manchester has a brilliant one at Wythenshawe hospital

www.nhs.uk/servicedirectories/Pages/hospital.aspx?id=RM202&v=1&svid=134652

Athene my DD is 5 and has only had them couple of months but have been back to back. Have noted the AB you mentioned in case that what doctor wants to give her. DS had recurrent ear infections and they gave him low dose of trimethoprim for three months and worked a treat so had high hopes for this tactic again. Maybe not. And if wetting does continue afterwards I think I will scream because doctors keep fobbing me off about that and referring me to useless HVs

nephrologists deal with all of urinary system not just kidneys but are more specialised than a general paediatrician. Paediatricians see this all the time and will refer on to nephrology if necessary. Antibiotics for recurrent UTIs are often successful and your paediatrician would assume that is the case until your GP refers back to say not worked. They would then consider the next level of treatment

Martha, how was your appoinment? (if you don't mind me being nosey)

DD just been given six month low dose of cefalaxin so we shall have to try it and see what happens. GP quite insistent this the only path to follow for time being, no discussion of what happens next so I am trying to think positively that we won't need to get that far. Am keeping an eye out for Martha too though....