Tests performed after the infection has disappeared
In some cases, even after the infection was eradicated, possible abnormal things in the urinary tract should be identified by a series of tests, in order to discover in time a potential affection of the kidneys. One or more of the tests below will be used to determine what kind of urinary infection your child has:
- - Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) analyses the bladder and the urethra in successive stages of filling and emptying the bladder. By means of a catheter, a liquid is introduced o fill the bladder before the child urinates.
- This test has the ability to reveal any strange aspect of the low urinary tract and also establish the degree of normality of the urine flow.
- - Ultrasound for kidney and bladder are used to identify possible shadows that would be out of normal, but it can't show any important problem of the urinary tract. Instead, it can measure the kidney's activity.
- - Intravenous pyelogram implies the introduction through a vein a liquid able to reveal possible obstructions of the bladder or of the kidneys.
- - Nuclear scans use radioactive substances (injected) to determine whether the kidneys look and work normally. Each type of nuclear scan can give other information about the urinary tract.
How to treat an UTI?
Usually, UTI treatment includes antibiotics, administered after tests on a sample of urine that determine what bacteria caused the infection. The initial antibiotic may be replaced with a stronger one. The information provided by the tests, also help to decide for how long the patient should continue the treatment. In case of sickness or impossibility to drink fluid medicine, the antibiotic is given intravenously.
The duration of antibiotic administration varies between 3 days and several weeks, and the doses per day start from one and can get to four.
Even if the symptoms disappear after a few days, it is important to follow the doctor's instructions regarding the treatment's duration.
The disappearance of the symptoms doesn't necessary involve the eradication of infection.
A child with UTI should be allowed to drink how much and whenever he wants several fluids, but not forced to do more he needs; in case he refuses the fluids, the doctor should be informed.