Why Do Girls Get Urinary Tract Infections More Often Than Boys?

Author: steven chang

Do you have a handful of kids? Have you often wondered why your little girls were more frequently diagnosed with urinary tract infection than your little boys? Must there be a special predilection of girls to this type of infection than boys? This may seem odd, but you have reason to think there is. Let me inform you why.

Urinary tract infection or UTI takes place when the body's filtering system is attacked by bacteria, that multiply causing infection. The most common infecting bacteria come from the bowel that live on the skin close to the rectum (where feces pass out), that can spread and enter the urethra (where urine goes out). Interestingly, girls are particularly vulnerable to UTI due to the close proximity of their rectum to their urethra. But in boys, their urethra is situated significantly far enough from the rectum. Thus, there is very little chance for the bacteria in the rectum to be transferred to the urinary tract and lead to an infection.

One more cause of UTI in young children is prolonged withholding of urine. Urine is contained in the bladder which is made up of muscles. Holding out too long to urinate could stretch the bladder muscle past its capacity causing it to weaken. When the bladder is weakened, it may not empty entirely during urination. Most urine can be retained in the bladder, increasing the chance of urinary tract infection.

Indications of UTI include a strong urge to urinate, followed by a sharp pain or burning sensation in the urethra at the time of urination. Since the bladder is not entirely emptied, the urge to urinate happens quickly, increasing frequency of urination. However, these classic indications of UTI may not be evident in youngsters. They are not keen observers to the symptoms, and besides young children don't normally complain. Most young children could simply present with high fever with no detectable physical focus of infection. Therefore, the bases in diagnosing UTI in kids are urinalysis and urine culture.

Because UTI is an infection caused by bacteria, seven to 10 ten days of antibiotics is usually required for treatment. While symptoms may recede soon after starting antibiotic treatment, antibiotics should still be taken till the full course of antibiotic treatment is finished. Quitting antibiotics earlier will not totally eradicate the bacteria and may even lead to resistance.

One great thing about UTI though, is that the accuracy of its pathologic course permits us to make effective preventive measures. Here are some recommendations you may want to consider.

• Good personal hygiene is the most vital tip to decrease the chance of UTI. Immediately after your child urinates or moves her bowel, always wipe from front to back and be sure to clean the skin near the rectum and separating the rectum and vagina everyday with soap and water. Doing so could stop bacteria from the anus from getting into the urethra.

• Do not delay urination when the child tells you she has an urge to do so.

• Let your child drink plenty of water/fluids to help flush bacteria out of the urinary system.

• Increase your kid's intake of Vitamin C because this can make urine much more acidic. An acidic urine can help decrease the number of potentially dangerous bacteria in the urinary tract.

• Let your daughter wear panties made of cotton. Cotton fabrics allows escape of moisture while other materials trap moisture, making a probable breeding ground for bacteria to grow.

As your kid grows, it is vital for her to be personally mindful about urinary tract infection, for the main reason that she will remain at high risk for acquiring the infection even in adulthood. Taking the necessary precautions can drastically reduce the frequency of UTI and stop its complications.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/why-do-girls-get-urinary-tract-infections-more-often-than-boys-4633983.html

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