Urinary Tract Infection - Female

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Call 911 Now

• Not moving or too weak to stand
• You think your child has a life-threatening emergency

Go to ER Now

• Can't pass urine or can only pass a few drops

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

• Side (flank) or lower back pain and new onset since starting antibiotic
• Stomach, side or back pain and worse since starting antibiotic
• Vomited 2 or more times and interferes with taking antibiotic
• Fever higher than 104° F (40° C)
• Shaking chills
• Age less than 1 year and any symptoms worse
• Taking antibiotic more than 24 hours and you think your child is worse
• Your child looks or acts very sick
• You think your child needs to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

• Blood in urine and new onset since starting antibiotic
• Taking antibiotic more than 24 hours, and pain with passing urine is severe. (Plus the pain is not better 2 hours after taking pain medicine)
• Taking antibiotic more than 48 hours and fever still there or comes back
• Taking antibiotic more than 3 days and pain not better
• You think your child needs to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

• You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

• Bladder infection on antibiotic with no other problems
• Questions about prevention of bladder infections

Atención en el hogar

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

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