Care Advice
Treatment for a Bladder Infection
What You Should Know about Bladder Infections:
- Bladder infections are common in girls.
- Most infections do not respond to the first dose of an antibiotic.
- Often the bladder symptoms do not improve the first day.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Keep Giving the Antibiotic by Mouth:
- UTIs need a prescription antibiotic. It will kill the bacteria that are causing the bladder infection.
- Give it as directed.
- Try not to forget any of the doses.
- Give the antibiotic until it is gone. Reason: to keep the bladder infection from flaring up again.
Pain Medicine:
- For pain when passing urine, give a pain medicine.
- You can use an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
- Use as needed.
Fever Medicine:
- For fevers higher than 102° F (39° C), give an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil).
- Note: fevers less than 102° F (39° C) are important for fighting infections.
- For all fevers: keep your child well hydrated. Give lots of cold fluids.
Give More Fluids:
- Give extra fluids to drink. Cranberry juice may be helpful.
- Reason: fluids dilute the urine so that it does not sting.
Baking Soda Baths - For Young Girls:
- Soak for 10 minutes to remove germs and to help with healing.
- Add 2 ounces (60 mL) baking soda per tub of warm water.
- Reason: baking soda is better than vinegar for young girls.
- During soaks, be sure she spreads her legs. This allows the water to cleanse the genitals.
- Repeat baking soda soaks 2 times per day for 2 days.
Vinegar Warm Water Soaks - For Older Girls After Puberty:
- Soak the genital area for 10 minutes to remove irritants and decrease pain.
- Add 2 ounces (60 mL) vinegar per tub of warm water. Reason: after puberty, vinegar water matches the normal acid level of the vagina.
- During soaks, be sure she spreads her legs. This allows the water to clean the genital area.
- Repeat vinegar water soaks once per day until is better.
Young Girls - Avoid Soaps:
- Avoid bubble bath, soap, and shampoo to the vulva. Reason: They are irritants and can lead to a UTI.
- Only use warm water to clean the vulva area.
What to Expect:
- Fever is usually gone in 48 hours.
- Pain and burning are often much better in 48 hours.
- Frequency (passing small amounts of urine often) is also usually better in 48 hours.
- Bladder infections occur more than once in 10% of girls.
- For any future fever without other symptoms, call your doctor's office. Your child should be seen for a urine check.
Return to School:
- Bladder infections cannot be spread to others.
- Your child does not need to miss any school or child care.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain when passing urine becomes severe
- Fever lasts over 48 hours after starting the antibiotic
- Vomiting and can't keep down the antibiotic
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Prevention of Bladder Infections in Girls
Tips for How to Prevent UTIs in Girls:
- When your child bathes, clean the genital area with warm water. Soap is not needed for young girls.
- Don't use bubble bath, shampoo or other soaps in the bath water. Reason: they are irritants.
- Keep bath time less than 10 minutes. Your child also should pass urine right after baths.
- Teach your daughter to wipe herself correctly from front to back after a stool.
- Drink enough fluids each day to keep the urine light-colored.
- Pass urine at least every 4 hours during the day and avoid "holding back."
- Wear cotton panties. Reason: to allow the skin to breathe. Your child doesn't need to wear panties during the night.
- Avoid constipation.
Call Your Doctor If:
- You have other questions or concerns
Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.