The urinary tract, or urethra, ensures that urine is excreted from the body in a healthy way. However , urinary tract infections can sometimes occur in babies and this can be challenging for the baby. The causes of urinary tract infections can vary. They are usually caused by bacteria of intestinal origin. Untreated urinary tract infections can cause serious damage to the kidneys.
What Causes Urinary Tract Infection in Infants?
Urinary tract infections in infants are common under certain conditions. Bacteria often enter through the stool and the anus. Therefore, you should make sure that your baby has a dry diaper and a clean diaper.
The risk of urinary tract infection is higher in baby girls than in baby boys. This is because the urinary tract distance is shorter in baby girls. You should clean the diapers of baby girls and baby boys meticulously. When cleaning your baby’s diaper, you should prefer cleaning care wipes specially produced for babies .
Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection in Infants
- Your baby has difficulty urinating
- Crying while urinating
- Your baby’s urine smells bad
- Abdominal pain
- A difference in the color of urine
- Bloody urine
- Diaper incontinence
- Loss of appetite
- Irregularities in your baby’s body temperature,
- A fever that rises for no reason and won’t go down,
- Urgent urge to urinate,
- Urinary incontinence
It is also useful to consult your doctor in case of frequent recurrence of constipation or diarrhea in infants.
Protecting Babies from Urinary Tract Infection is Important!
Feeding your baby breast milk reduces the risk of infection. Experts say that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months. It is important for the baby’s health to continue breastfeeding until two years.
After bathing your baby, you should only use water to thoroughly remove any soap and suds that remain after bathing your baby.
- It is important to change your baby’s diaper frequently. A wet diaper provides an environment for urinary tract infections.
- Especially in baby girls, cleaning of the sexual area should be done from front to back. The area between the folds of the sexual organ should also be cleaned carefully.
- It is very important that your baby is healthy and adequately fed.
Treatment of a Baby with Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections in babies can have many different causes. If your baby has any of the above symptoms, consult your doctor.
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