She is on antibiotic but complains of horrible pain and unable to urinate
My 3 yr old daughter has a nasty uti, could she take Pyridium to help with the pain?
Question posted by mommynursekelly32 on 9 April 2014
Last updated on 10 April 2014
Answers
DzooBaby
9 April 2014
This is a question to ask her pediatrician. Children younger than 12 years of age should not take phenazopyridine (Pyridium) unless directed by a physician. Poor baby, this is so miserable! I have gotten them regularly throughout my life since the age of two. Make her drink lot of water and watered down juice. Be sure that you choose low acid juices because juices high in acid will make her urine acidic and it will burn worse. Keeping her bladder well flushed by keeping her hydrated is imperative. She will urinate if you make her drink and once she starts going and her urine becomes diluted from drinking, it wont burn so much. You may have to force her a bit to get her to drink enough. Even once the UTI is clear, be sure she always stays well hydrated because she may be prone to these from now on and keeping the urine dilute and flowing will help prevent UTI's. Be sure to teach her to wipe herself from front to back after she uses the restroom-many UTIs are from E. Coli and E. Coli grows abundently in the digestive tract so UTIs occur when this bacteria migrates (or gets dragged by TP that has also wiped the anus) from the anal area to the urinary meatus (opening). Dont use ANY bubble baths on her! I found out a LONG time ago that bubble bath irritates and leads to UTI for myself. My mother told me that I would get a UTI every time I took a bubble bath even with so called "kid" or "baby" gentle formulas-they were still too harsh. If you bleach her underclothing, be sure to double rinse as it can irritate. Also, another big one, teach her to come in and urinate when she feels the urge and not to "hold" her urine. Many little girls are too occupied with their play and dont want to stop to urinate, so they hold it and this can cause reflux of urine back into the bladder carrying bacteria with it and this leads to UTI. Call her from play at least hourly and make her try to go potty. Be vigilant because these can become chronic in some children especially when they have them early in life like this. It is much more common in girls and women who are sexually active because of the nature of sexual activity is conducive to UTI formation. When we see UTIs in young ones, it is often a matter of a combination of bad habits (like poor wiping hygeine, using bubble bath and holding the urine too long, or playing in dirt or sand boxes in shorts or a dress with panties and getting sand or dirt into the genital area etc) and anatomy that makes them prone to UTI.
mommynursekelly32
9 April 2014
Thank you!!! I'm a nurse so I usually push my girls to drink water!!! I don't use bubble bath EVER and stress proper hygiene with wiping and washing :) We are still working on potty training. She hates being wet so she does good about not peeing in her panties however, and I'm not sure of the reason, she won't pee on the potty either. She will wait till nap time when I put a pull up on. I'm guessing this is what caused the UTI in the first place. I just feel horrible for her. I'm not sure if she is holding her urine because she's afraid it will hurt to pee or if the UTI is causing dysuria... I just thought Pyridium may help her discomfort.
DzooBaby
9 April 2014
I just want to add that the antibiotic should begin to relieve her pain in 2-3 days. If she is not any better at all in a couple days, you need to report this to her physician. She may not be on the right antibiotic.
mommynursekelly32
9 April 2014
Thank you!!!
DzooBaby
10 April 2014
So she doesnt go all day on the potty? She waits until you put a pull up on? Then she is holding her urine for hours maybe! This is probably why she has the UTI-the urine is refluxing from the meatus up in to the urethra and bladder dragging e.coli with it! Time to stop the Pull Ups! She needs to learn, and I know they are convenient for mom, but they dont teach children. The Pull Up is becoming detrimental. It is time to stop using one. If she doesnt like being wet, she wont like waking in a puddle and she will stop waiting for the Pull Up. I know this sounds harsh (I am a nurse and a mommy too although my boys are now grown) My kids had Pull Ups about the time they came out and it didnt take me long to realize that they just hamper potty training and drag it out longer. My boys were the opposite. They peed in the potty but would wait for a Pull Up to poop! My youngest would even poop in the Pull Up then take it off himself because he didnt like sticky poop on his butt! A few days without a Pull Up made a BIG difference although it was harder for me!
DzooBaby
10 April 2014
Poor girl, I feel for her! UTIs are miserable! I have been dealing with them regularly since I was two! I still get at least one every year but it is a lot better since I work from home. The worst was when I worked the Floor and when I was a circulator in surgery for 10 hour days! I had constant infections because I couldnt get anyone to "break me out" of the surgical room to pee! It was awful! I had my first one at age two after getting sand from a sandbox all up in my panties. I have been prone since. I had to have a cystoscope and dilation when I was in my 20s and things got a little better. I have learned a lot over the years. If one is prone to UTIs becoming sexually active brings a whole new set of problems into your life and I have had to learn the hard way what to do and what not to do. I had terrible cases of "honeymoon cystitis" Hopefully this is a one time event for her! I certainly can relate to the discomfort. Pyridium is not routinely given to peds but talk to her pediatrician.
Related topics
pyridium, urinary tract infection, pain, antibiotics
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