Near East University Hospital, Child Health and Diseases Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlke Beyitler stated that urinary tract infections seen in children should be detected in a timely manner and necessary treatment should be done and said, “There is no room for negligence”. Noting that possible negligence may cause risky conditions such as kidney failure, hypertension and pregnancy problems in the future, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyitler stated that this situation can be prevented by consuming plenty of water and urinating with sufficient frequency and amount.

Sharing the information that urinary tract infections develop due to many reasons, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyitler spoke on various ways of avoiding this situation.

Explaining that children who cannot be treated in case of late diagnosis may face risky conditions such as kidney failure, hypertension and pregnancy problems in the future, Dr. Beyitler emphasized that it is very important to diagnose the ailment in question and to follow it up with the right treatment method in a timely manner.

It is easy to treat but neglected!
Noting that urinary tract infections, which is one of the most common infections in children, pose a risk, especially for young children, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyitler stated that this situation may have dangerous consequences for the developing kidneys and said “Although it is easy to treat, this disorder, which is neglected by most, may lead to bigger problems in children in the future.”

Commenting on the factors that cause urinary tract infections, Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlke Beyitler continued: “Toilet training in young children is a difficult and long process. During this time, parents have to spend a lot of time. Kindergarten or kindergarten-age children hesitate to go to the toilet for many reasons and hold their urine. This in itself is a cause of urinary tract infections. If the urine stays in the bladder for a long time, there is an increase in the bacteria that cause disease, and thus, the protective cells are destroyed and urinary tract infection occurs. The most common symptoms are constipation, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and inability to gain weight.

Reminding that the symptoms of urinary tract infections cannot be expressed by preschool children, Near East University Hospital Pediatrics Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlke Beyitler said that this was determined by the parents in the first place.

Referring to the findings on the infection, Beyitler noted that in young children, this situation manifests itself with “children’s urinating intermittently, restlessness and fever”. Dr. Beyitler emphasized that because school-age children can express themselves, they can express this with expressions such as “back or low back pain, it hurts when urinating”.

Explaining that urinary tract infection, which has become a common situation recently, is common in boys up to the first year of age, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyitler said that this problem occurs more commonly in girls after the first year of age.

Drink lots of water!
Pointing out that urinary tract infections develop due to many reasons, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyitler also touched upon the ways of preventive measures. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Beyitler listed some of the causes of infections as follows: “Reasons such as frequent washing of the genital area with soap or shampoo, insufficient emptying of the bladder, kidney stone disease, being uncircumcised and bladder dyssynergia can cause infection. Generally, however, this infection occurs when intestinal bacteria reach the urinary tract. Urinary tract infections, which are seen in 3 percent of girls, are seen in 1 percent of boys. This is because bacteria advancing to the bladder can reach the bladder faster in girls. Factors such as unnecessary antibiotic use and poor hygiene also disrupt the natural environment of the genital area. Thus, children’s resistance to urinary tract infection decreases.”

Reminding that in order to prevent urinary tract infection, adequate fluid intake and emptying of the urinary bladder at frequent intervals must be done, Dr. Beyitler also shared many important details, from the review of hygiene habits to the use of clothes.

Dress the kids in more loose and comfortable clothes!
Near East University Hospital Pediatrics Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. İlke Beyitler said, “The genital area should be washed only with water, not soap or shampoo, in girls, the genital area should be wiped from front to back and the bathing time should not be prolonged. In addition to all these, it should not be preferred to wear tight trousers, tights or pantyhose. Instead, children should be dressed in looser trousers and comfortable clothes. In children who are overweight, it is difficult to keep the genital area dry. For this reason, a nutrition and sports program should be applied for individuals to lose weight in a healthy way, one should not stay in the sea or the pool for a long time, and wearing a dry swimsuit after going out is among the factors that should be considered.”

How is it treated?
Explaining that urinary tract infections can be treated with appropriate antibiotics within 5-10 days under normal conditions, on the other hand, Beyitler said that the treatment period may be extended up to 14 days in more serious infections. Noting that depending on the severity of the infection, it may be necessary to administer antibiotics by intravenous or injection, Beyitler further said “In addition to the treatment of urinary tract infection in children, it is very important to examine risky patients with certain imaging methods and to prevent the development of new infections. Urinary system ultrasonography is the most commonly used method for this purpose.”