UTI's in toddler girls, smelly urine but no temp. Could it be?

[Itsnotmeisit]

My 2 year old DD's urine smells strongly of fish, she's still in nappies at present and each one today has smelt awful. I'm quite concerned as if it is an infection I don't want it going untreated.

She doesn't have a temperature and is well in herself.

I'm planning on calling the GP surgery first thing in the morning but even getting past the receptionist is like pulling teeth at the moment. I'm under no illusion that I'll be able to get her an appointment easily. Not good.

Would you say my assumption is likely correct and it's a UTI, even in the absence of a temperature?

It sounds entirely possible that it’s a uti. I rarely feel ill with them and rarely get a raised temp. Would definitely get a sample tested as if it is a uti they’re best treated ASAP. I’d not tell the receptionist she’s ok as they might fob you off. I’d just say she has uti symptoms. If they do find she has a uti and give her antibiotics don’t give her masses of drink. Just her usual amount. UTIs can’t be flushed out and loads of fluid can dilute the antibiotics.

Yes could be uti, exact same symptoms as DD gets. Ignore the crap above about fluids, they don’t dilute antibiotics and it is important to keep waste products moving. Just a normal amount of clear fluids.

You’ll need to get a urine sample, easier said than done when they are in nappies I know! I just followed DD with a potty and left her nappy off. Luckily we have a big kitchen so no carpet accidents!

Thank you for the replies!

I phoned the surgery and have been given a telephone appointment with the nurse at some point late afternoon today.

Can a nurse prescribe AB's?

You'll need to get a urine test before you get get AB's.
My DS had one few months ago and he's currently still on timethoprim on a night time until his kidney scan comes through!
(Kidney scan is protocol for young children with UTIs along with the trimethoprim)

My DH had antibiotics prescribed by a nurse practitioner not sure how they're different to a nurse though.
Ask for the bag that attaches to the inside of a nappy. It'll collect the urine, seal it then they'll send it off to be tested.

I'm not expecting to get the call until 5.30ish (receptionists estimate) so if they do ask for a sample it's going to be difficult to get one in before they close at 6.

Looks like it'll be at least another day before anything is done for DD

Collect the sample now. That's what I did.

I was waiting for a call back but still chased her round. You could even take the call outside the surgery with the sample with you.

I used a potty then transferred to a small Tupperware!

Then I rushed in right before closing, they dip tested it and I took the prescription away with me.

Yeah I would get a sample now so your ready.

Thanks all, I'll run down there and do that

I don't suppose anybody knows an efficient way of getting a sample from a toddler who isn't potty trained do they?

At the moment I have cling film in her nappy and planning to 'soak' the wee up with cotton wool, then transfer.

Not sure if that'll work or is reccomended though?

Sorry but that won't work, the fibres from the cotton wool can give a false positive infection.

Nappy off, follow her round with something to catch it!

Also to add, I had to do one in hospital the other week.
I gave him a drink and sat him on my knee, 15 mins later he wee'd.
Occupied with books!

Nappy off. Hold her down on the potty until she wees. That’s what I did with DS. It took ages but was the only thing that worked

DH has her sat on the potty holding her there, she isn't happy. Poor thing. Hopefully she goes.

At hospital they can give you a pad to put in the nappy and then they take the urine from the pad.

The nurse called me after my last post and said if I couldn't get her to go on the potty then using cotton wool is better than nothing. I did that and took in the sample.

Just had a call back saying they've dipped it and it isn't showing anything but it's very diluted because she's been drinking alot.

Got an appointment to have her seen in person tomorrow and give a new sample.

Hi there, I have experience of this with my then 2 year old who wasn’t potty trained. I noticed a strange smell in her wet nappies but put it down to the brand of nappies being the problem. 10 days I noticed this for, she had no other symptoms, it was only when her nappy leaked one night and the bedding smelt fishy I thought oh dear something isn’t right. And then I felt terrible that I had left it that long. This was pre covid and I got an appointment with a doctor who gave me a small urine collection bag - I tried it and it was useless, just fell off. Make sure you also get a normal red top urine collection because what worked was giving her a big drink, laying her nappy off on a towel on the bed with a mobile phone playing twenty mins of CBeebies, and I just sat there waiting ready to collect. It actually worked!
Anyway long story short, she did have an infection and it was identified as E. coli. I knew it as soon as I got the sample as it was cloudy. This can happen with young children in nappies particularly girls as everything is in the same area. She had to have 10 days of amoxicillin to clear it, and they usually refer you to a consultant if they get a uti at this age. Hope that all helps and hope your daughter gets sorted soon.

@Pluckyduck

Hi there, I have experience of this with my then 2 year old who wasn’t potty trained. I noticed a strange smell in her wet nappies but put it down to the brand of nappies being the problem. 10 days I noticed this for, she had no other symptoms, it was only when her nappy leaked one night and the bedding smelt fishy I thought oh dear something isn’t right. And then I felt terrible that I had left it that long. This was pre covid and I got an appointment with a doctor who gave me a small urine collection bag - I tried it and it was useless, just fell off. Make sure you also get a normal red top urine collection because what worked was giving her a big drink, laying her nappy off on a towel on the bed with a mobile phone playing twenty mins of CBeebies, and I just sat there waiting ready to collect. It actually worked! Anyway long story short, she did have an infection and it was identified as E. coli. I knew it as soon as I got the sample as it was cloudy. This can happen with young children in nappies particularly girls as everything is in the same area. She had to have 10 days of amoxicillin to clear it, and they usually refer you to a consultant if they get a uti at this age. Hope that all helps and hope your daughter gets sorted soon.

Hi Plucky,

Thank you for your reply. It's really helpful.

I totally forgot to ask at the GP for a collection bag today, that would have made things so much easier. DH did ask at the chemist when he bought the sample pot but they didn't have any.

It's going to be an ordeal trying to get a new sample tomorrow for sure.

She was without a nappy for over an hour, spent 45 mins of that hour sat on the potty but didn't go one iota. A couple of minutes after getting off she wee'd on the floor and we couldn't catch it in time, so resorted to the cotton wool.

The sample I did manage to squeeze out of the cotton was extremely clear which surprised me, given the strength of the smell, but the GP said it was obvious she had been drinking alot.

Her most recent nappy hasn't smelt as bad as the previous ones, perhaps due to the amount she's drinking, so that's good - but I'm going to keep the appointment regardless because I want to be absolutely certain she's ok.

Did you get sorted op?