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Original poster

urine infection in little girl....what are the symptoms please?

28 replies

PellMell · 08/02/2008 21:15

dd aged two and a half has been unable to wee all day today.
She has screamed/protested that she doesn't need one and tells me "it hurts in there"

After trying her again late afternoon, I layed her down to have a look if she was sore at all. Everything looked exactly as it should except a dry and slightly pink looking crusty stuff( sorry don't know better way to say it) on her labia which I cleaned off .

I took her to the evening g.p who had a quick look and said that as she seemed otherwise o.k I should encourage her to drink and wee and give her nurafen.
If no change by tomorrow lunchtime then I should get her checked again.
Tonight when putting her to bed....still no wee.
I noticed a watery blood in her pants and she said it hurts her (and points near to her belly button
She has gone off to bed without any bother so is not in agony
any ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
PellMell · 08/02/2008 21:22

bump
Hoping for wise ole mners

OP posts:
AdamAnt · 08/02/2008 21:23

It certainly doesn;t sound like everything's hunkydory with her waterworks from the symptoms you've described. I'd definitely take her back tomorrow. Maybe try giving her some cranberry juice in the meantime (tomorrow a.m.)?

Poor tot. Hope she feels better soon!

Aero · 08/02/2008 21:28

Symptoms of urine infection are: Frequent and urgent loo visits, pain when passing water, pain in lower abdomen, possible redness and soreness and eventually a high temperature if left untreated. Spoken as a mum whose dd has had recurrant urine infections.

Aero · 08/02/2008 21:29

Did they not take a sample to test from her?

AdamAnt · 08/02/2008 21:30

Yes, I'm surprised the GP didn't investigate further TBH.

Original poster
PellMell · 08/02/2008 21:35

no, nothing.
She has no toileting issues normally.
Shall I see someone in the morning? (as long as she is fine overnight)
I can't bare the thought of leaving her to get ill.

OP posts:
PotPourri · 08/02/2008 21:38

Def sounds like urine infection to me - DD has had a few. does she have a temperature (my DD also had febrile convulsions)? You should collect a sample. Get down the doctors surgery tomorrow and ask for a red capped tub, and a silver collection tin (thye are little tinfoil tins). You can put it inside the potty. Sit her in front of the TV/DVD or give her a book and sit with her to encourage her to wee. As soona s you have hte sample, get them to send it away to the labs to be 'cultured'. It will take 2 days to get the answer, but it will give you a definate answer adn the right treatment (we have had lots of antibiotics without any proof of an infection- and it is not right. The doctor can't tell if it is an infection without it being cultured)

Stock up on cranberry juice and cranberry yogurt - and get her to take as much as you can - that helps - it apparently stops the germs sticking to the urinary tract wall. Other thing I have heard works is home made barley water - that is pearl barley boiled in a small amount of water, then strained when cool. Get her to drink lots, and buy lots of (juice based) ice lollies. If she has a temperature, you can use both calpol and ibuprofen in tandem, and get a fan. Sponging down is the only thing that works with my DD though (on top of all the above cooling techniques!)

She will need lots of cuddles, it makes you feel crap - all sore down there, and they just don't understand what is going on.

Good luck

jellyhead · 08/02/2008 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
PellMell · 08/02/2008 21:45

Thanks so much for that brilliant advice and thanks all for your posts.
Actually I am a bit pissed off that I wasn't even told to take a sample or where I should go if she gets poorly.
We live in a rural village so no surgery/clinic here until monday.

Also how long is safe for her to do no wee?
Because she usually goes on the toilet I made sure she sat on the potty tonight (she said she needed a poo)
I wanted to see if a wee came and I might either miss it or not be able to see if it looked odd.
She didn't do one though.

OP posts:
MrsEi25 · 08/02/2008 21:55

hi pellmell it does sound like a urine infection TBH my DD had recurrent UTIs and it sounds just like this. i think in children you should have sonme concern if no wee is passed for 8 or more hours or no more than 30ml in 24hours it is similar criteria for adults aswell TBH but i would definitely get her checked at either the nearest out of hours GP service or the A+E. i took my DD to the A+E when she had her first UTI and they referred her to a urologist(sp?) for some tests aswell. they are usually really helpful and will help you to get a proper sample from her. i hope she gets better soon and in the meantime give her loads of cuddles and calpol
xx ei xx

Original poster
PellMell · 08/02/2008 22:00

Thanks mrsE
If she carries on sleeping I don't think I'll disturb her...I guess that means she's not actually too poorly doesn't it?
Will get her checked out in the morning though.

OP posts:
MrsEi25 · 08/02/2008 22:06

i wouldnt disturb her either just check on her from time to time to make sure she hasnt got a temperature have you put a nappy on her for tonight?? she may do a wee through the night as she will be more relaxed and less able to hold it in iyswim so if not then be prepared to have to change the bed sheets in the night or morning
xx ei xx

PotPourri · 08/02/2008 22:12

Yes, either A&E or the emergency surgery - you might need to access that through NHS 24 - INSIST if they fob you off. 08454242424 (I think). And you are right, let her rest while she is settled.

Original poster
PellMell · 08/02/2008 22:15

Yes I did put a nappy on her. This is the first time in a while that I would love her to wake me up after doing a wee.
I've just remembered that the last time she did do a wee was bed time last night.
She went on the loo and afterwards i put her night time pull up on.
As she walked to her bedroom she cried out and said "Oh I've done a wee in my nappy"
I thought it was odd but assumed she got off the toilet to quickly. I gave her loads of reassurance and there was no sign that she had any pain.
Today she just hasn't been and doesn't wear a nappy all day.
Also she is so tiny for her age I have to pop her on and off the toilet... so she hasn't done it wihout me knowing.

OP posts:
MrsEi25 · 08/02/2008 22:21

ah poor little love xx she might wake up after she has done a wee as it will more than likely sting a bit if its a UTI but if she is dry in the morning i would defo take her to the docs/A+E xx
xx ei xx

dramaqueen · 08/02/2008 22:22

Get her checked out asap. I wouldn't wait until monday. Just take a clean sample in a plastic cup or something like that to the out of hours doc first thing in the morning. She definitely sounds as if she has a UTI and needs antibiotics.

They will test it there for signs of infection and then should send it off for further tests to get the right antibiotics. Insist that they do this or she could be left on the wrong ones.

They usually put them on Trimethoprim, but some are resistant to it. An alternative is Cefalexin. She should start to get better within 24 hours of taking them. The docs will then contact you (or you phone them) to get results from the hospital and to confirm which antibiotics she should be on.

They will probably then refer her for a scan to check her kidney function, which is a normal procedure when a young child has a UTI.

I have been through 4 full blown infections now with my dd. I ahve learned to spot the symptoms early and get her tested.

Please don't leave it all weekend. It will be far worse if you do. Let us know how she gets on.

SlightlyMadShrek · 08/02/2008 22:28

Agree with everything that has been ssaid here.

An additional point is that the GP should be concerned about her not weeing all day as it s a symptom of dehydration.

I am not saying she is dehydrated. It sounds like she is holding it in...but the fact that she hasn't had a wee in 24hrs should be of concern to a GP from teh dehydration angle if not from the UTI angle. Basically I am saying there is more than 1 reason for concern in a child tat isn't weeing and it doesn't sound as though they are worried about any of them IYSWIM.

SlightlyMadShrek · 08/02/2008 22:29

Yes don't leave it all weekend. If it is a UTI it can quickly trak back to teh kidneys in a small child.

Original poster
PellMell · 08/02/2008 22:38

Oh yes i'm completely sure she is not dehydrated . We have managed to get her to drink about half (maybe a bit less) of her usual liquids.)
I even gave her a cup of water while she was cleaning her teeth. She spat the toothpaste in the cup of water then drank the water
I am going to take her as soon as we get up, even if she wees overnight !!! She needs to be checked out.
I feel a bit stupid for walking away from the surgery like we had just gone for the fun of it.

OP posts:
MrsEi25 · 08/02/2008 22:45

dramaqueen i posted on the dec 05 postnatal group you did and just noticed you here (i was ei24 BTW) so i thought i would say hi
xx ei xx

rachaelsara · 08/02/2008 22:50

The dr or nurse can dip test to check for blood/protein/etc. My 6yr old has just had a uti. Made her quite poorly, but amoxycillin(sp) sorted her out. I would support taking her in the morning, don't take any sh*t, press your point and emphasise her symptoms. (spoken as a frequently fobbed off Mum!)

Aero · 08/02/2008 23:32

Sorry - got waylaid. Another givaway sign is that the urine itself can smell rather strong, so the morning nappy might smell rather unpleasant. She should manage overnight to produce some urine. Agree with everyone else, def get her seen and a sample collected. Trimethroprim is th usual frontline ab of choice and works well and quickly usually if infection is present.

AdamAnt · 09/02/2008 11:49

How is she today?

magHOOVERlia74 · 09/02/2008 11:58

dd4 is 4 and has her 2nd urine infection within the last 8 months. Its really quite important for under 5's to get treated asap as there can be some complications with the kidneys after infection.
Dd4 is having to have a kidney scan next week just to be on the safe side. The doctor can do a test there and then to check for anything in the urine and then send it off to the lab and give antibitics straight away if infection is there.

Hope you get it sorted xxx

Also tons of water or cranberry juice

Original poster
PellMell · 09/02/2008 12:54

HI everyone.
Well there was still no wee this morning so we went to the hospital out of hours service.
After feeling her very hard bladder she was referred to paediatrics with a mention of using catheter.

She doubled up in pain then gave me a stare and did a huge wee.
Once finished she said "it's all better now" and we have been discharged.
She has just done another wee without any problem
So it's a bit of a mystery but hopefully all is well.
Thanks everyone

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