Urinary Tract Infections In Girls

Urinary infections in girls arise from the entry of bacteria and other parasites into their urinary system. It is very important that these pathologies are diagnosed in time in order to avoid the spread of these pathogens.

One of the problems that usually occur most frequently in women is urinary infections. This does not exclude girls, who are also prone to the negative effects caused by these bacteria. So how to prevent and treat them?

The human urinary system is made up of three main organs:

• The urethra, which is the tube through which urine is expelled from the bladder to the outside.
• The bladder, which is the bag where urine is stored.
• The kidneys, responsible for removing waste and water from the blood, forming urine.

A urinary tract infection is the invasion and proliferation of bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites or microbes in one or more of these sectors of the urinary tract.

The area where infection most often occurs is in the bladder, and the most common means of contamination is ascending; that is, it usually starts in the bladder and then moves up. Hence the importance of detecting and treating this disease in time to prevent the bacteria from reaching the kidneys and causing more serious damage.

Causes of urinary infections in girls

Urinary infections in girls occur more frequently in children under four years of age and are one of the most common problems in women in general. There is no need to worry too much, as these discomforts can be avoided and treated.

The main cause of the infection can be determined by the location and arrangement of the female anatomy: a woman’s urethra is shorter than a man’s and, in addition, it is closer to the anus. For this reason, germs have to travel a shorter distance to enter the urinary tract.

The bacterium that produces the most urinary infections is called Escherichia coli. It is a microorganism that lives naturally in our intestines and is also found in our faeces. Because of this, it can easily be dragged from the anus into the urethra, which produces an infection.

In fact, the risk of infections increases considerably if the girl is in the habit of cleaning herself backwards when she goes to the bathroom. Urinary tract infections in girls can occur especially in the summer, when it is hot. These are the variables influenced by high temperatures:

• Undeniably, germs multiply faster with heat. The higher the temperature, the greater the proliferation rate.
• The heat causes children to sweat more and the volume of urine to decrease. If, in addition, girls drink little water, this small amount of urine will give bacteria that may have entered it have more time to multiply and affect your body.
• It’s a time to go to the pool, a place where bacteria are more easily transported to the bladder. In addition, wearing wet bathing suits for a long time also facilitates the rise of bacteria to the urethra – the same happens with clothes that are too tight.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection

• Increased frequency and difficulty in urinating.
• Sense of urgency to go to the bathroom.
• Pain or burning when urinating.
• There may be blood in the urine.
• Mild fever.
• Pain in the lower abdomen.
• If there is an infection in the area of ​​the genitals, there may be itching or burning in the area.

Recommendations for parents

There are many good habits and things we can do to avoid the risk of a urinary tract infection in our daughters; for example:

• Encourage children to drink plenty of water and fluids in general. This will allow the bacteria to be eliminated through the urine before they can cause an infection.
• Teach them the importance of urinating several times a day and not holding back.

• Practice and teach daughters good habits of hygiene in the genital area.
• If the girl is already able to go to the bathroom by herself, it is essential that she wipes herself from front to back after urinating and defecating.
• If the girl is still in diapers: it is important that the mother changes diapers frequently to avoid dampness and that she is careful not to contaminate the area when changing diapers.
• Quickly change the child’s wet bathing suit.
• Buy cotton underwear that is loose.

Diagnosis and treatment of urinary infections in girls

The diagnosis of infection is made by analyzing a urine sample from the girl to confirm the presence of bacteria.

Meanwhile, treatment is with antibiotics. But if the girl is very young, she can be hospitalized for intravenous medication. Thanks to the medications, symptoms should improve on the second or third day.

In fact, at the end of the treatment, the analysis is repeated to confirm that there is no bacteria present in the urine. Complete treatment of a urinary tract infection in girls takes approximately one week.