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Original poster

My poor boy now has a UTI

27 replies

christmasdinnyer · 10/12/2005 20:38

and is being referred by GP for tests. He's been so poorly with it. Am so scared it's linked to his other problem (had a fistula-in-ano). Am so worried. How on earth do boys get a UTI?

OP posts:
HunkerXmasAndAMunkerNewYear · 10/12/2005 20:44

Don't know how boys get them, Dinny (like your Xmas name, btw) - you know that DS has had one UTI and a suspected one.

Poor little boy - how is he atm? Are the antibiotics helping?

FWIW, they take UTIs very seriously, because they can cause kidney damage, but that's rare according to posts on here on a thread I started when DS had his kidney scan and also according to the doctor we saw at the clinic. He said that about half the children they saw at the hospital clinic were UTIs, so it's very common.

I know it's hard not to worry - huge hugs, sweets x x x

Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 10/12/2005 20:57

stressing so much, Hunk, especially as he's been unwell since the Wed before last and only started the right antibios yesterday

GP writing to ds's consultant at St George's to see if we need to be referred there or more locally....

think the antibios are helping - he is REALLy tired though. also has a stinking cold, cough. streaming eyes and all of his molars coming through.

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MARINAtivityPlay · 10/12/2005 21:03

Dinny, I am sorry to hear this
At least antibiotics work fast once correctly prescribed. Hope he feels better soon.

HunkerXmasAndAMunkerNewYear · 10/12/2005 21:07

Oh, Din

Are you worried about his kidneys because it took a little while for the antibs to be prescribed? I was too and my GP said that often babies go undiagnosed for weeks with UTIs and they're fine. Honestly, kidney damage very rare.

So sorry he's got a cold and teething too Give him a big cuddle from me, gorgeous boy.

Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 10/12/2005 21:11

Hunker - yes, am worried because of that but that is reassuring to know, thanks. And have got to leave him to go to work tomorrow am.
as the GP has the urine test results, will the right antibio have been prescribed so will defo work? did your ds have a confirmed UTI (ie. urine test?)

Marina - thanks for kind words

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MARINAtivityPlay · 10/12/2005 21:13

What's he been given Dinny? Obviously UTIs are caused by a variety of bacteria but usually trimethoprim (anti-bacterial drug rather than an anti-biotic) is given when the bacteria has not yet been identified.
Hunker is so right - it can take yonks for babies to be dxed correctly with UTIs and kidney damage (reflux) IS very rare.

Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 10/12/2005 21:16

Marina, he got his urine test results back on friday and GP prescribed him 7 days of cefalexin....

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Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 10/12/2005 21:18

he did have balanitis about a month ago and I wonder if that may have travelled up as it took 3 weeks to clear up (our old GP changed antibiotic three times)

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MARINAtivityPlay · 10/12/2005 21:21

That sounds good. Cefalexin is I think one of the main UTI drugs used where they suspect trimethoprim won't do the biz. I am a UTI veteran myself (ie, not the kids touch wood) and it has usually been one or the other I've been given.
You might want to sort out something to replenish his gut flora after he has finished his course of ABs as it can upset their bowels a bit...Solgar do something called ABC Dophilus in powder form which is great.
I bet as far as weeing is concerned he will feel much better by tomorrow evening at the latest.

MARINAtivityPlay · 10/12/2005 21:22

I am no expert but I think it is very probable that is how the poor little chap got it then...did they link the balanitis to his fistula Dinny?

Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 10/12/2005 21:24

oh, thanks for that. can they tell it is the right one for the bacteria they cultured in his wee?

I have to say I am surprised it is a UTI as his wee hasn't been strong or smelly - it's been pale and lots of it..

poor you suffering - SO miserable. will try and get some acidophilis powder - any point him taking it whilst on the course?

OP posts:
shepherdswatchedtheirflockets · 10/12/2005 21:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 10/12/2005 21:29

basically, he had surgery to lay open the fistula about 2,5 months ago. the incision got infected 5 weeks later (awful, he was in agony) and basically I had to give him lots of sitz baths to ease the pain AND when he pooed (he had v runny poo as was on antibios for the infection). so, he basically would be in the baby bath whilst a bit of poo would float around (although obv didn't leave him sitting in there if poo around - just to clean the area) Then, a aweek later he got balanitis and it took another 2 courses of antibios before it seemed to get better.

sorry, v long.

but - had app with consultant a couple of weeks ago and asked him if balanitis related to fistula and he said no - was probably caused by the antibiotics originally prescribed for post-op infection.

phew, if you read all that, you're a total star.

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MARINAtivityPlay · 10/12/2005 21:35

Good grief Dinny you have all had a time of it. My cystitis nightmares have made me paranoid about them pooing in the bath too, I am so sorry he has been so unlucky lately. Is the fistula now resolved, healing apart?
Give him the acidophilus as soon as he finishes the cefalexin. It will really help recalibrate his "gastric transit" as those daft yogurt ads call it.
I really hope he is on the up once this infection is treated, sounds like you all deserve a break. Poo and wee problems are worrying and depressing, I find.

Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 10/12/2005 21:41

there is possibility that it will recur as it didn't heal in an straightforward way. have to brace myself every time I change his nappy to see another abscess on his bottom. Awful.

so do you think the poo in the bath may have been the cause of the UTI? I couldn't keep his bum any cleaner - never ever use anything other than cottonwool, warm water, then dry it all with clean down, let it air as much as I can - change his nappy at least every 1.5 hours!

yes, poo/wee problems are so depressing and upsetting. part of you is always scared someone will accuse you of neglect or worse

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Marie12 · 10/12/2005 22:45

i wouldn't have thought poo in bath caused the UTI personally. its so easy to beat yourself up about these things, i do it too, but you can drive yourself mad....

Heartmum2Jamie · 11/12/2005 14:18

I am almost certain that poo in the bath can not cause a UTI. My son had a UTI as a newborn and I asked the same question to the consultant. His answer was...."sometimes these things just happen" (story of my poor boys life!) He was treated with antibiotics and then put on Trimetoprim (he was on it for just over a year). They do take UTI's very seriosly, especially in boys as it is less common. They will want to do several tests to rule out reflux etc.

I hope that your ds starts to feel better soon. Hugs ((()))

Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 11/12/2005 18:07

so what are the tests, Heartmumtojamie? are they traumatic for the child? glad your ds doing well. did they find a problem with him that they had to correct with surgery?

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Heartmum2Jamie · 11/12/2005 21:31

With Jamie, the did a renal scan (like an u/s), which was easy and non invasive. Then they did a bladder x-ray. This test is a little invasice and I found it the hardest one. The insert a catheter up thier little privates, and fill the bladder with a substance that shows on x-ray. It doesn't take long, maybe 15 minutes as they basically wee the stuff straight back out again. That test is to check for reflux (urine going back into the kidney from the bladder). The last test is a kidney imaging scan. This takes a couple of hours. The radiographer injects a radio active tracer into the hand. You go back to the hospital about 2 hours later and then your ds will either lie on the imaging bed, or sometimes they have an imaging chair for older children for about 30 minutes will they take scan of the kidneys. This is to check for any damage or scarring of the kidneys.

In Jamie's case, he was fine and it was just "one of those things". He had all the tests done and had to have the kidney imaging one done twice as the first time it came back saying that they couldn't rule out scarring to his kidneys, but they thought it was due to patient motion (which it was!)

Looking back on it now, I also wonder if it could have been due to Jamie's other host of medical problems, but it probably really was a one off. I really hope that this is the case for your ds too dinny (great name btw!)

MARINAtivityPlay · 12/12/2005 11:28

How is he today Dinny?
And thanks to those who posted re poo in bathwater. I know my reason for worrying is of a lesser magnitude than Dinny and Heartmum have been through with their poor ds' but it's good to stop fretting about these things.
And yes Dinny, you do worry about that, don't you. I am one of those worrywarts who gets anxious about nappy rash even

Heartmum2Jamie · 12/12/2005 17:02

Marina, I'm just glad to be able to help in any way I can. I am also a worrywart mummy, and Jamie is my second baby! I really have to stop myself from wrapping Jamie up in cotton wool (and I have wanted to do this with my eldest too sometimes) Jamie doesn't get a bath very often due to his eczema, but he poos in the bath more often than not (it's a lovely age, lol!)

Heartmum2Jamie · 12/12/2005 17:03

Opps! Meant to ask how your ds is today Dinny?

Original poster
christmasdinnyer · 27/12/2005 20:07

Hello, just checekd this thread as ds (after a good week since stopping his antibiotics) has been sick today and has a temp and is v unhappy. Can't help suspecting it's another UTI. Will see what sort of night he has and take him to GP tomorrow if he's no better. It COULD be a bug as dh spent yesterday being sick (AND managed to drive us all back from Cornwall, bless him). Really hope it is that but it seems the timing could be such that the bacteria has had a chance to grow again....? Very worried. Poor ds seems to just have no luck at the moment.

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hunkermunker · 27/12/2005 23:02

Had been wondering about DS, Dinny - really hope it's not another UTI and just some 24-hour bug (poor DH too).

Hope you had a lovely Christmas in Cornwall - speak soon x x x

Janbo25 · 05/01/2006 20:57

Just want to say thanks for this thread my ds who is nearly 1 as also been diagnosed with a UTI after being ill for nearly 2 months and constantly having fever which then triggered off febrile convultions, he to is being referred for these tests so obviously I am very anxious, so any further advise would be greatly appreciated!

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