What to check for urinary tract infection in children

Urinary tract infection is a common disease in children, and timely urine analysis and bacterial culture are the key to diagnosis. Treatment includes the use of antibiotics and increased water intake, while paying attention to personal hygiene. Urinary tract infection is more common in children, mainly due to bacteria invading the urethra, bladder or kidneys. Children are prone to urinary tract infection because their immune systems are not fully developed and urination and hygiene habits have not yet been formed. Common symptoms include frequent urination, urgency, pain when urinating, fever, abdominal pain, etc.

1. Urinalysis is an important method for the preliminary diagnosis of urinary tract infection. By testing the white blood cells, red blood cells, bacteria and other indicators in the urine, it can be preliminarily determined whether there is an infection. Urinalysis is simple to operate and the results are fast, and it is a commonly used screening method in clinical practice.

2. Bacterial culture is the gold standard for confirming urinary tract infection. By inoculating urine samples into culture media and observing bacterial growth, the type of pathogenic bacteria and its sensitivity to drugs can be determined. Bacterial culture results are of great significance in guiding the selection of antibiotics.

3. Imaging examinations such as ultrasound and CT are used to assess the severity and complications of urinary tract infection. For children with recurrent urinary tract infections or suspected urinary tract structural abnormalities, imaging examinations can help detect potential anatomical abnormalities such as hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux.

4. Antibiotic treatment is the main means of treating urinary tract infection. According to the results of bacterial culture and drug sensitivity test, sensitive antibiotics are selected for treatment. Commonly used antibiotics include amoxicillin, cefixime, nitrofurantoin, etc. The course of treatment is usually 7-14 days, and the entire course of treatment must be completed according to the doctor's instructions.

5. Increasing water intake helps dilute urine and reduce the time bacteria stay in the urinary tract. Encouraging children to drink plenty of water and maintain adequate daily urine output can help prevent and relieve urinary tract infections.

6. Paying attention to personal hygiene is an important measure to prevent urinary tract infection. Teach children to develop good urination habits and avoid holding urine; change underwear regularly to keep the vulva clean and dry; avoid using irritating lotions to clean the vulva.

Urinary tract infection is common in children, and timely urine analysis and bacterial culture are the key to diagnosis. Treatment includes the use of antibiotics and increased water intake, while paying attention to personal hygiene. Through the above measures, urinary tract infection in children can be effectively prevented and treated to ensure the healthy growth of children.