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Urinary tract infection (UTI) is quite common in children. Urinary tract infection refers to infection in any part of the urinary tract including urethra, bladder, ureters or kidneys. Urinary tract infections result mainly from a bacterial infection. 90% of UTI cases are caused by E. coli (Escherichia coli) that resides in digestive tract normally and passed in the stool. Some other UTI-causing bacteria include klebsiella, enterobacter, proteus and enterococcus. The bacteria gain access to urinary tract via the urethral opening. From there, they get into the urinary bladder and multiply here leading to an infection. UTI is classified into two types: a lower UTI that affects urethra (urethritis) and bladder (cystitis), and an upper UTI that affects ureters (ureteritis) and kidneys (pyelonephritis).
The risk factors for urinary infection in kids includes wiping anus from back to front after passing stool that increases chance of gut bacteria to enter urinary tract. Babies passing stool in a diaper might soil the urethra, weak immunity, poor hygiene, use of antibiotics for prolonged time and wearing diapers that are super absorbent types are the other causes. Holding urine in bladder even when there is urge to pass urine also increases risk. Girls are more at risk of UTI as compared to boys because the urethra is of short length in females and its opening lies close to the anus. As a result, the bacteria can gain easy access to the urethra from anus in the girls. Besides, boys who are uncircumscribed (with the presence of foreskin over penis head) below one year of age are slightly at little more risk of UTI as compared to other boys.
Constipation is also a risk factor because this can put pressure on the bladder and as a result bladder cannot empty naturally causing retained urine increasing the chance of infection. Another condition is vesicoureteral reflux in which urine goes from bladder back into the ureter and kidneys from an issue in valves of ureters.
Signs And Symptoms of UTI in Children
The signs and symptoms in infants (babies less than one year of age) and toddlers (kids between age one year and three years) cannot be clear as they cannot communicate the symptoms. There occur vague and general symptoms in them like fever, irritability, foul smelling urine, pain in the abdomen, taking feed poorly/loss of appetite, weakness, vomiting and not gaining weight.
In older children, specific symptoms can occur and that might include pain or burning with urination, crying when they urinate, passing only few drops of urine, passing urine involuntarily, bedwetting, frequent urination, urgency to pass urine, foul smell in the urine, pain in the abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. Some of the serious symptoms that indicate an infection in the kidney might include high fever with chills and shaking, irritability, intense tiredness, pain in the back or sides of the abdomen (flank region), nausea and vomiting.
Homeopathic Management
Homeopathy offers a very safe and natural treatment for cases of UTI in children. These medicines help to fight with the infectious agent and eliminate it from the body. Side by side, they gradually decrease the intensity of the symptoms. Homeopathic prescription for UTI varies from case to case as medicines are selected based on the characteristic symptoms in each and every case after detailed evaluation of the symptoms. These medicines are recommended in mild to moderate cases. Each and every case of UTI in children should be monitored carefully and any of the homeopathic medicine should be taken under supervision of a homeopathic physician and self-medication should be avoided in any case. Homeopathy has a limitation in helping severe cases of UTI, and in cases where infection has spread to kidneys, help from conventional mode of treatment should be taken immediately.
Homeopathic Medicines for UTI in Children
1. Borax – Top Medicine
Borax is a widely recommended medicine for managing urine infection in children. The main characteristic feature to use this medicine is that the child cries or screams before passing urine out of pain. There is increased frequency to pass urine as well. Sometimes there is an urge to urinate at every 10-minute interval. There is also an urgent desire to pass urine. The urine has foul smell. In some cases needing borax, tiny red particles can be seen on the child’s diaper.
2. Lycopodium – With Frequent Urine
This medicine is indicated when there is frequent urination. The urine is pale in color. The urine contains foul-smelling sediments. Child cries before passing urine. Pain is felt in the bladder region. In some cases, urine passes involuntarily.
3. Sarsaparilla – When Child Scream Before And During Urination
This medicine is recommended when a child screams before as well as while passing urine. The child can pass urine only while standing. Urine passes in thin stream. A severe pain at the end of urination may be felt. The bladder region might be distended and painful to touch. Urine may pass involuntarily at night. Urine may contain white sand-like particles.
4. Cantharis – For Pain / Burning During Passing Urine
Cantharis is a very effective medicine when there is marked pain or burning while passing urine. Pain may also be felt before and after passing urine. The child doubles and scream with pain. There is pain in the bladder along with frequent urination. There is an urge to urinate even if there is little urine in the bladder. Shortly after passing urine, the urge to urinate renews. The urge to pass urine is less while sitting but increases when standing or walking. In some cases needing it, urine passes drop by drop.
5. Apis Mellifica – For Burning When Passing Last Drops Of Urine
This medicine is well indicated when a burning sensation is felt while passing the last drops of urine. There is frequent urination. Urine passes with much difficulty. The urine may also pass involuntarily in some cases. Itching in urethra may occur.
6. Sanicula – When Child Cries Before Urinating
This medicine, like borax, is indicated when a child cries before urinating. There is an urgent desire to pass urine. Urine passes in small quantities at long intervals. The child may strain to pass urine when passing stool.
7. Kreosote – With Offensive Smelling Urine
Kreosote is a valuable medicine when the urine smells offensive. There is frequent urination during day. The child has to hurry up when the urge to urinate occurs. There may also occur involuntarily urination at night during sleep.
8. Petroselinum – With Sudden Urgency To Urinate
This medicine is the best when there is sudden urgency to pass urine. Children needing it have a sudden urge to urinate and if the urge is not attended immediately, they jump up and down with pain. Excessive pain occurs while passing urine. They also have a frequent urge to pass urine. There may be an urge to urinate every half an hour.
9. Merc Sol – With Frequent And Urgent Urination
Merc Sol can be considered in cases with frequent and urgent urination. The child needing it shows increased frequency to pass urine but passes only a little urine at a time. There is an urge to urinate every hour. There is also a need to hurry to urinate otherwise urine passes on its own. The urine flows in thin stream. The child tends to hold the urethra and cries from pain. Pain or burning is felt in the beginning of urination in most cases.
Hello, my 4 year old daughter has been complaining of headaches, a sore stomach, and “owie” or hot pee when urinating for the past day. Are there any remedies that might be helpful for her?