Not only adults are susceptible to inflammatory processes, but also... Among childhood diseases, genitourinary inflammation is considered one of the most common.
Urethritis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urethra) does not occur often in children. But its manifestations are more dangerous than in adults and can lead to relapses. Therefore it is very important detect symptoms of urethritis in a timely manner, and undergo qualified treatment.
Causes of the disease
The nature of urethritis in children can be infectious or non-infectious.
Infectious sources of disease:
- Staphylococcus;
- streptococcus;
- coli;
- herpes;
- ureaplasma;
- Trichomonas;
- gonococci and others.
Non-infectious factors for the development of urethritis:
- anatomical abnormalities urinary tract;
- hypothermia;
- violation of personal hygiene rules;
- wearing tight clothes;
- trauma to the urethra due to medical procedures (catheterization), falls, passage of stones, etc.;
- allergic reactions to foods, medications, detergents and other substances.
A sedentary lifestyle, which leads to congestion in the pelvis, can also become an impetus for the development of urethritis in children.
Symptoms in boys and girls
Manifestations of urethral inflammation may differ in boys and girls. General symptoms for both sexes can vary depending on the age of the child.
You need to pay attention to the frequency of urination.
In infants, this process is difficult to track due to the fact that they urinate often and are mostly in a diaper. An inflammatory process may indicate constant crying and moodiness child. With childhood urethritis, the process of urination becomes painful and is excreted in small portions.
The presence of pain and itching in young children causes crying and restlessness. The child often touches the external genitalia with his hands. Fear of going to the toilet may appear in older children.
If in adults more females are susceptible to urethritis, then in childhood boys get sick more often. This is associated with frequent phimosis (narrowing foreskin) in children. With phimosis, the head of the penis and the foreskin become inflamed. Subsequently, the inflammatory process can spread to the urethra.
Typical manifestations of urethritis for boys:
- itching in the penis;
- the presence of blood impurities in the urine;
- whitish discharge from the urethra, there may be purulent impurities;
- urine.
Manifestations in girls:
- itching and redness of the external genitalia;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- frequent urge to urinate.
The above may indicate not only urethritis, but also other inflammatory processes genitourinary system.
Therefore, you need to quickly show the child to the doctor and conduct a thorough diagnosis.
It includes clinical and blood tests, a smear from the urethra to identify the causative agent of the disease, and ultrasound.
Features and treatment plan
The tactics of treating urethritis in children is determined by several factors: the age of the patient, the form of the disease, the type of pathogen, the presence accompanying pathologies etc.
The approach must be comprehensive, covering all aspects of the child’s life. For uncomplicated urethritis treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis.
Hospitalization is required only for severe inflammation and complications.
The basis of therapy are. Their action is aimed at destroying inflammatory agents. The selection of drugs is carried out based on bacteriological culture results from the urethra. If the pathogen cannot be identified, or you need to wait a long time for the test result, antibiotics are prescribed empirically.
Apply drugs wide range actions:
- Augmentin;
- Cefix;
- Cefaclor, etc.
The dosage is determined by the doctor based on the age and weight of the child. The course of treatment should be at least 7 days.
Difficulty in treating children younger age antibiotics is that most of them have age restrictions. This significantly narrows the choice effective drugs, active against pathogenic bacteria and urethritis pathogens.
Therefore, children are additionally prescribed immunomodulators, vitamin complexes, physiotherapy procedures that are aimed for correction immune status patient. As local therapy installations of medicinal antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
Mandatory to speed up recovery is correction of nutrition and drinking regime. The child should exclude the consumption of spicy, salty, smoked, and sour foods. You need to eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, and porridge.
If a baby gets sick, the nursing mother should review the diet.
To harmful microorganisms washed out of the urethra faster, the child needs to increase the amount of fluid consumed. It is better to drink clean water without gas, compotes, fruit drinks.
If urethritis has allergic nature, you need to take antihistamines. Preference today is given to 2nd and 3rd generation drugs. They have a minimum side effects, suitable for long-term use.
- Zodak;
- Erius;
- Fenistil;
- Zyrtec.
Children under 6 years old It is preferable to give medicines in the form of syrup; at older ages - tablets.
Traditional methods of treatment
In addition to drug treatment used to relieve inflammation symptoms facilities traditional medicine .
The attentive attitude of adults to the health of children helps to promptly identify and treat many diseases. If you suspect inflammation of the urethra, you need to quickly show the child to a urologist, who will assess his condition and prescribe appropriate therapy.
Find out more information by watching the webinar on the topic “Cystitis and urethritis in adults and children”:
Not only adults, but also children are susceptible to inflammatory processes. Among childhood diseases, genitourinary inflammation is considered one of the most common.
Urethritis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urethra) does not occur often in children. But its manifestations are more dangerous than in adults and can lead to relapses. Therefore it is very important detect symptoms of urethritis in a timely manner, and undergo qualified treatment.
Causes of the disease
The nature of urethritis in children can be infectious or non-infectious.
Infectious sources of disease:
- Staphylococcus;
- streptococcus;
- coli;
- herpes;
- ureaplasma;
- Trichomonas;
- gonococci and others.
Non-infectious factors for the development of urethritis:
- anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract;
- hypothermia;
- violation of personal hygiene rules;
- wearing tight clothes;
- trauma to the urethra due to medical procedures (catheterization), falls, passage of stones, etc.;
- allergic reactions to foods, medications, detergents and other substances.
A sedentary lifestyle, which leads to congestion in the pelvis, can also become an impetus for the development of urethritis in children.
Symptoms in boys and girls
Manifestations of urethral inflammation may differ in boys and girls. General symptoms for both sexes may vary depending on the age of the child.
You need to pay attention to the frequency of urination.
In infants, this process is difficult to track due to the fact that they urinate often and are mostly in a diaper. An inflammatory process may indicate constant crying and moodiness child. With childhood urethritis, the process of urination becomes painful, urine is excreted in small portions.
The presence of pain and itching in young children causes crying and restlessness. The child often touches the external genitalia with his hands. Fear of going to the toilet may appear in older children.
If in adults more females are susceptible to urethritis, then in childhood boys get sick more often. This is due to frequent phimosis (narrowing of the foreskin) in children. With phimosis, the head of the penis and the foreskin become inflamed. Subsequently, the inflammatory process can spread to the urethra.
Typical manifestations of urethritis for boys:
- itching in the penis;
- the presence of blood impurities in the urine;
- whitish discharge from the urethra, there may be purulent impurities;
- cloudy urine.
Manifestations in girls:
- itching and redness of the external genitalia;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- frequent urge to urinate.
The listed symptoms may indicate not only urethritis, but also other inflammatory processes genitourinary system.
Therefore, you need to quickly show the child to the doctor and conduct a thorough diagnosis.
It includes clinical tests of urine and blood, a smear from the urethra to identify the causative agent of the disease, and ultrasound.
Features and treatment plan
The treatment tactics for urethritis in children are determined by several factors: the age of the patient, the form of the disease, the type of pathogen, the presence of concomitant pathologies, etc.
The approach must be comprehensive, covering all aspects of the child’s life. For uncomplicated urethritis treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis.
Hospitalization is required only for severe inflammation and complications.
The mainstay of therapy is antibiotics. Their action is aimed at destroying inflammatory agents. The selection of drugs is carried out based on bacteriological culture results from the urethra. If the pathogen cannot be identified, or you need to wait a long time for the test result, antibiotics are prescribed empirically.
Apply broad spectrum drugs actions:
- Augmentin;
- Cefix;
- Cefaclor, etc.
The dosage is determined by the doctor based on the age and weight of the child. The course of treatment should be at least 7 days.
The difficulty of treating young children with antibiotics is that most of them have age restrictions. This significantly narrows the choice of effective drugs that are active against pathogenic bacteria and urethritis pathogens.
Therefore, children are additionally prescribed immunomodulators, vitamin complexes, and physical procedures that are aimed at for correction of immune status patient. As local therapy, installations of medicinal antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drugs are used.
Mandatory to speed up recovery is correction of nutrition and drinking regime. Diet food The child should exclude the consumption of spicy, salty, smoked, and sour foods. You need to eat more fresh vegetables, fruits, and porridge.
If a baby gets sick, the nursing mother should review the diet.
In order for harmful microorganisms to be washed out of the urethra faster, the child needs to increase the amount of fluid consumed. It is better to drink clean water without gas, compotes, fruit drinks.
If urethritis has allergic nature, you need to take antihistamines. Preference today is given to 2nd and 3rd generation drugs. They have minimal side effects and are suitable for long-term use.
- Zodak;
- Erius;
- Fenistil;
- Zyrtec.
Children under 6 years old It is preferable to give medicines in the form of syrup; at older ages - tablets.
Traditional methods of treatment
In addition to drug treatment, it is used to relieve symptoms of inflammation. traditional medicine.
They should not be given to children without prior consultation and approval of a doctor.
For urinary tract infections it is usually taken infusions and decoctions such plants:
- bearberry;
- sage;
- St. John's wort;
- lingonberry leaves;
- corn silk;
- rose hip;
- currant leaves;
- wheatgrass roots.
How to be treated folk remedies for pyelonephritis, read our article.
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Signs of urethritis in children
The main signs of urethritis in children:
- Frequent, painful urination;
- The appearance of a sharp cry during urination or complaints of pain and pain;
- Pathological impurities in the urine (pus, blood, turbidity);
- Increased body temperature;
- The appearance of mucopurulent discharge from the urethra;
- Tearfulness, refusal to eat and play.
A child with signs of urethritis should be seen immediately by a doctor. Inflammation of the urethra can occur not only as an independent disease, but can be a complication of pathology of the kidneys, testicles and other organs of the genitourinary system.
After the examination, the attending physician will refer the patient for examination. Diagnostics makes it possible to find out the nature inflammatory process and select effective drug therapy.
Remember that the symptoms and treatment of urethritis are the responsibility of a qualified professional. Questionable home methods can be dangerous to a child's health.
Classic urethritis is more common among boys. This is due to the structural features of the urethra: the male urethra is long, and infectious pathogens are localized mainly in it, while in a girl it is wide and short, which allows pathogens to quickly penetrate directly into the urethra. bladder, causing the development of cystitis. In boys, inflammation of the urethra is often combined with damage to the foreskin and phimosis, which is accompanied by swelling, redness of the skin of the head of the penis, and pain.
Why does urethritis develop in childhood?
The main reason for the development of urethritis in children is infection. Inflammation can be caused by the following pathogens:
- Escherichia coli;
- Streptococci;
- Staphylococcus;
- Klebsiella;
- Trichomonas;
- Ureaplasma.
Urethritis in children can also be of a non-infectious nature, developing as a result of injuries to the urethra, exacerbation allergic diseases and hormonal disorders. The following unfavorable factors contribute to the development of the disease:
- Hypothermia;
- Exacerbation of chronic infectious diseases(tonsillitis, sinusitis, otitis, cystitis, pyelonephritis);
- Eating a lot of spicy foods;
- Fungal infections of the urinary organs;
- The presence of immunodeficiency states, anemia;
- Acute viral diseases(flu, rotavirus infection);
- The course of dysbacteriosis;
- Chronic constipation;
- Insufficient hygienic care;
- Endocrine pathologies;
- Conducting bladder catheterization.
It is necessary to establish the exact cause of inflammation of the urethra in order to eliminate the effect of predisposing factors and prevent relapses in the future. This can be done by a qualified specialist through a conversation with the parents, assessing the health status, quality of nutrition and lifestyle of the child.
Diagnosis of childhood urethritis
The doctor makes the diagnosis of urethritis based on the symptoms in children and the results of an examination, which includes:
- General urine analysis, Zimnitsky test, urine according to Nechiporenko;
- Bacteriological culture of urine;
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder;
- Urethroscopy;
- General blood test, blood biochemistry.
Diagnostics can be supplemented with other studies (depending on the child’s condition). You should not refuse an examination if your doctor prescribes it.
The acute form of urethritis can lead to complications. Without quality treatment, the disease will become chronic, giving periodic relapses even after minor hypothermia and infection with viral diseases.
How is urethritis treated in children?
Treatment of urethritis in childhood is prescribed taking into account the cause of the disease:
First.
Antibiotics help stop the development of the infectious-inflammatory process and prevent complications. Taking antibacterial drugs lasts 7-10 days. After completion of therapy, a re-examination is scheduled.
Second.
Additionally, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, and desensitizing drugs are prescribed.
Fourth.
Physiotherapeutic procedures are used after the acute process has subsided.
The chronic course of urethritis requires more thorough diagnostics and immunostrengthening procedures. In the presence of long-term phimosis and lack of effectiveness conservative therapy recommended surgery(circumcision).
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Causes
Urethritis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urethra, which can occur in children for the following reasons:
- failure to maintain careful intimate hygiene;
- penetration of pathogenic bacteria, such as E. coli, into the urethra from anal passage due to improper washing;
- hypothermia of the body;
- wearing tight underwear made from synthetic fabrics;
- injuries to the external organs of the genitourinary system;
- allergic reactions of the body to any products;
- irritation of the mucous membrane of the urethra with household chemicals.
Most often, urethritis occurs due to hypothermia. It doesn't matter where the child froze. Hypothermia is a stressful situation for the body, which can react pathological process in the urethra, this phenomenon is called nonspecific inflammation.
TO mechanical damage urethra include medical manipulations to install a catheter in the urethra, or the mucous membrane of the child’s urethra is injured by stones coming out of the kidneys due to urolithiasis.
Signs of the disease vary depending on gender and causes of development.
Symptoms
Urethritis in boys and girls has distinctive features in manifestation symptomatic picture. General signs diseases:
Children complain of severe itching in the genital area, which is why an infection can develop with constant scratching and penetration of pathogenic pathogens.
The nature of the symptomatic picture of the inflammatory process in the urethra in boys:
- frequent urination;
- Availability blood clots in urine;
- purulent discharge from the urethra;
- change in the color of urine, which becomes cloudy and dark.
In girls, urethritis manifests itself as follows:
When bladder inflammation develops, adolescents complain of the same symptoms as children. The only difference is that what older child, the fewer general manifestations it has, the body temperature rarely rises, fatigue and lethargy are characteristic mainly of children under 5 years of age.
In children with the development of urethritis, with the onset of the first symptomatic picture, problems with urination arise. Feeling constant pain when going to the toilet, the child begins to refuse water and other liquids so that he is less likely to empty the bladder.
Due to intentional retention of urine, the situation with inflammation of the mucous membrane of the urethra begins to worsen. Urinary incontinence often occurs.
Diagnostics
An examination for suspected urethritis includes asking the child (or parents, if the baby is too young to independently answer questions about his or her well-being) about the symptoms that are bothering him. The genital organs are examined.
To get an accurate picture of the baby’s health condition, the doctor prescribes a series of laboratory tests, aimed at identifying pathogenic microflora and searching for the causes of inflammation in the urethra in a child. Diagnostic methods include:
- expanded and general tests blood;
- general urine analysis;
- bacteriological urine culture;
- vaginal smear in girls;
- urethral smear in boys.
If urethritis is provoked pathogenic infection, an analysis of the inoculation of the nutrient medium is carried out, which helps to identify which antibiotics the pathogen is insensitive to. If the disease often occurs in a teenage child and a short remission is replaced by frequent relapses, then a blood test is performed to determine antibodies to pathogenic microorganisms: chlamydia, gonococci, mycoplasma.
To determine the exact location of the focus of the inflammatory process, a urine test is performed using the Nechiporenko method. If there is a suspicion of complications and the presence concomitant diseases organs of the genitourinary system, ultrasound diagnostics are prescribed.
Treatment of urethritis in children
Inflammation of the urethra is treated comprehensively. If urethritis was caused by pathogenic microflora of a bacterial or infectious nature entering the body, an antibiotic corresponding to the type of pathogen is prescribed.
In cases where the genitourinary system has suffered from pathogenic microflora, the type of which could not be identified, they are prescribed antibacterial drugs with a general, broad spectrum of action. To such medicines includes Cefixime, Amoxicillin, Cefaclor. The course of treatment for urethritis with antibiotics is 1 week, if necessary extended by a doctor for 2–4 days.
To restore urination and normalize the condition of the irritated mucous membrane of the urethra, a course of herbal medicine is carried out. The main task of herbal medicine is to activate the process of urine production, which will remove pathogenic microflora from the body.
Recommended herbal medicine - decoctions based on chamomile and sage, decoction of horsetail. Urethritis in baby will pass faster if you give him daily fruit drink made from sour berries, mainly lingonberries and cranberries. Drinks will not only speed up the process of urination, but will also help restore the immune system, increasing its protective functions.
Nutrition must be adjusted. A provoking factor that leads to the fact that the urethra begins to become inflamed is the child’s consumption of a large amount of spices, marinades and herbs. The diet during treatment of urethritis excludes fried and salty foods, spices, and carbonated water. Confectionery products can be consumed in limited quantities.
Treatment of the disease in children includes compliance with the drinking regime. The child should be given at least 1.5 liters of water per day; he can drink both boiled and mineral liquid. This measure will help to quickly flush the bladder and urethra, removing pathogenic microflora from the organs. Urethritis is treated at home. After completing a course of antibiotics, it is necessary to re-take tests to determine the positive dynamics of the therapy.
Complications
The inflammatory process on the mucous membrane of the urethra in children is dangerous because it becomes chronic in a short period of time. Chronic urethritis is difficult to treat and is characterized by frequent relapses with painful symptoms.
The pathological process in the urethra, when it worsens, provokes various diseases organs of the genitourinary system, in particular, becomes a factor in the occurrence of cystitis. In girls, the risk of developing vaginitis cannot be excluded.
Later in adolescence and puberty, urethritis leads to hypersensitivity genitourinary system to various infections, due to a sluggish inflammatory process, the condition is suppressed immune system.
Chronic urethritis, which arose in childhood, during adult life is often the cause of female and male infertility. Against the background of an inflammatory process in the urethra, renal failure in older patients.
Prevention of urethritis in a child
To protect children from the risks of developing an inflammatory process in the urethra, it is necessary to carry out preventive work:
To prevent urethritis from occurring in a baby under one year of age, you must not forget about the need to regularly change diapers and do not wait until the diaper is completely filled with urine. It is recommended to use powders and creams for treating the skin of babies to prevent diaper rash.
When washing boys, there is no need to try to retract the foreskin, as this can damage it and create a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic bacteria that cause urethritis.
It is necessary to teach children to wash themselves after defecation, but if this is not possible, they should use wet wipes. This preventative measure for urethritis will help reduce the risk of pathogenic bacteria entering the genital mucosa.
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Types and causes of urethritis
Various factors can provoke the development of the disease, which are classified into the following types:
- infectious;
- non-infectious;
- allergic.
Development will depend on age. Young children are not able to indicate the cause of anxiety, and parents need to know what kind of disease it is and how it manifests itself.
Causes of development of childhood urethritis
In the urethra. In infants, the disease is very rare, since they have a stable immune system due to breastfeeding. In early childhood, urethritis is more often diagnosed in boys, and later it affects girls more often. This is due to frequent childhood phimosis, in which boys are susceptible to inflammation of the foreskin. The causes of the disease can be infectious, non-infectious and allergic.
Adults are more susceptible to infectious urethritis. It is conditioned pathological influence microorganisms (staphylococci, E. coli, trichomonas, mycoplasmas, enterococci, etc.). They can penetrate the urethra from other infected genitourinary organs:
- in the presence of cystitis - from urea;
- in the presence of pyelonephritis - from the kidneys;
- in a boy with prostatitis - from the prostate gland;
- when the head of the penis becomes inflamed;
- in girls with vulvitis.
Also, infection by pathogens can occur in the womb or as a result general use hygiene items if a woman has ureaplasmosis or chlamydia.
In addition, provoke infectious species Urethritis in a child can cause phimosis in boys and synechia in girls.
Non-infectious causes are:
- hypothermia;
- injury to urine excretion pathways;
- early manipulations in the area of the child’s genitourinary organs (catheterization, smear taking, use of a cystoscope);
- inadequate intimate hygiene care;
- wearing tight underwear and clothing;
- Availability congenital anomaly urethra, which causes urinary stagnation;
- reduced immune system.
Allergic urethritis is associated with the use of hygiene products, unnatural linen or chlorinated water.
Symptoms
With urethritis in children, symptoms manifest differently in each age category and depend on gender. Among the most important manifestations are the following:
- Frequent urination. It won't be difficult to notice that. Infants already pee a lot: normally, the frequency of urination can reach 20 times. In addition, the child is in a diaper. In order to analyze the frequency of emptying, you need to remove the diaper and count the number of wet diapers changed. If the child urinates more than 2 times per hour, then you already need to worry. In addition, the baby begins to be capricious and shows apathy.
- Itching and soreness. Girls feel increasing pain in the pubic area and itching in the external genitals during the process of urinating. In boys painful sensations and burning sensations occur in the penis during urine excretion. Young children respond to this condition by crying, worrying, and regularly feeling the perineum. Fear of severe pain can provoke reflex urinary retention.
- General symptoms. Sometimes signs of viral diseases appear. There is an increase in body temperature, the baby becomes lethargic and capricious.
Since the main one in boys is phimosis, these diseases often go away simultaneously. Therefore, if, in addition to the symptoms described above, the foreskin swells, an attempt to touch the genital organ is accompanied by a cry, pus discharge with unpleasant smell, then, most likely, the infection has spread to the urinary canal, causing its inflammation.
Treatment
If you suspect a urological infection, you should immediately contact a specialist for a thorough diagnosis. To do this, the doctor prescribes a series of laboratory tests to identify the pathogen with its sensitivity to a certain antibacterial agent. If urethritis in infants is caused by pathogens, treatment is difficult. This is explained by the fact that urethritis can only be treated with certain antibiotics from a certain age. Then children are given immunomodulatory therapy, physiotherapy, as well as herbal medicines and vitamin complexes are prescribed.
Antibacterial therapy is determined by the type of pathogen. If it is not established, then they take broad-spectrum drugs Amoxicillin, Cefexime, Cluvulanate. Small children preferable intravenous administration medicines.
In addition, anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed - Urolesan, Cyston.
In the complex, children are given teas and decoctions based on diuretic herbs - chamomile, sage, St. John's wort, which can speed up the process of eliminating the infection. You can also use sitz baths with medicinal herbs. For older children, herbal medicines can be purchased at pharmacies and taken in tablet form.
To strengthen the immune system, the child is given echinacea tincture 2 drops 3 times a day for a month.
Allergic urethritis is treated with antihistamines.
Parental assistance in treatment
Parents can help their child recover faster by creating for him proper care which is as follows:
- Give your child plenty to drink throughout the day.
- If there is an assumption that the disease is caused by an allergy to personal hygiene products, then they should be discarded and it is better to use simple baby soap.
- During hygiene procedures genitals do not need to be rubbed vigorously with a washcloth: washing should not cause discomfort. Also, the procedure should be carried out in such a way as to avoid getting soap into the urethra.
- Sitting in a warm place can help relieve pain. clean water for 10 minutes. This procedure can be repeated regularly throughout the day.
- You need to follow a diet that excludes everything fatty, salty, spicy, and sour, as this can cause additional irritation of the urethra.
- Follow all doctor's instructions. Even if after a couple of days the child feels better, the course of treatment, especially with antibiotics, must be completed completely.
- After an antibacterial course, it is necessary to restore the intestinal flora by taking probiotics.
In order to prevent repeated manifestations of genitourinary pathologies, it is important to avoid hypothermia child's body, keep an eye on proper hygiene. In the case of teenagers leading sex life, for prevention purposes, it is necessary to visit a urologist and gynecologist once a year.
Urethritis in children is a fairly common occurrence, which is both infectious and non-infectious in nature. The danger of the disease is that kidney failure may develop. Urethritis is more common in boys than in girls due to anatomical features, and symptoms often cause severe pain and discomfort, so at the first signs you should consult a doctor.
Ways of infecting a child with urethritis
Urethritis is an inflammatory process of the mucous walls of the urethra. There are two blocks of causes for the development of the disease – infectious and non-infectious. The first block includes diseases such as:
- cystitis - inflammation of the bladder;
- bacterial infection leading to the development of pyelonephritis;
- balanoposthitis - inflammation of the head or foreskin of the penis;
- inflammation of the vulva in girls.
The name of most infections can be confusing, since it is difficult to imagine how they could occur in a baby. But the danger of infection may await you at home. living conditions, if there is a sick adult. There are also risks when visiting public pools or beaches. It is also necessary to pay attention to the use of sterile instruments and bedding when visiting a doctor.
There is also a non-infectious way of developing urethritis in a child:
- Hypothermia of the entire child’s body or just the legs.
- Exacerbation chronic diseases. ENT organs or urinary system.
- Complication after acute viral infection(flu, ARVI, rotavirus).
- Unbalanced diet, eating a lot of spicy, salty or sweet foods.
- Poor genital hygiene.
- Wearing tight and tight underwear or trousers.
- Allergies to detergents, fabrics or medications.
- Injury to the genital organs.
- Prolonged inhibition of urination.
- Anatomical abnormalities, in particular the valve in the urethra, which leads to the accumulation of urine and the development of inflammation.
- Hormonal disbalance.
- Bladder catheterization.
Urethritis in children has many causes, but it is important to promptly notice its development.
Types and forms of childhood urethritis
There are two types of urethritis: specific and nonspecific. The first is infectious in nature and is provoked by gonococci, streptococci, mycoplasmas, etc.
Nonspecific urethritis is divided into several categories:
- infectious;
- non-infectious;
- allergic.
Infectious urethritis is caused by viruses and infections other than those belonging to a specific group. This division is important when choosing a method of treating a child. Since specific urethritis can be cured only after getting rid of the underlying disease.
The non-infectious form of urethritis is considered common in children, since there is a high probability of injury, contamination or other external irritation of the genital organs.
Allergic urethritis can occur not only from external contact with an allergen, but also from taking medications. If the body has an intolerance to certain components of the drug, then there is a possibility that if they enter the urethra or urethra, these substances may cause a reaction.
Urethritis is divided not only into infectious and non-infectious forms, but it is also distinguished by the degree of localization and duration of its course.
The disease can spread along the anterior or back wall urethra or have a total shape.
The duration of the disease reveals:
- Acute urethritis - if it is observed for less than two weeks, and the symptoms are obvious and painful.
- Subacute urethritis is characterized by mild symptoms that do not cause severe discomfort or may disappear after a short time.
- Chronic – if symptoms last for more than two weeks. It can also subside and reappear after provoking factors.
Symptoms and signs
Signs of urethritis vary depending on the age and gender of the child. Also, its manifestation can be acute or hidden. It has been noted that boys most often experience acute symptoms urethritis.
However, regardless of the above criteria, there are general symptoms urethritis:
- painful sensations during urination;
- itching and burning in the urethra:
- purulent and mucous discharge with an unpleasant odor;
- frequent urge and at the same time inability to urinate;
- temperature increase;
- tearfulness and fatigue of the child.
Separately, it is worth paying attention to the behavior of newborns or one-year-old babies, since they are also not immune to urethritis. If the baby begins to cry before peeing, and also often draws in his legs, behaves capriciously, you should pay attention to appearance his genitals and inspect the diaper for any discharge or blood.
Any discrepancy with the norm requires contacting a doctor.
In boys
In connection with his anatomical feature, boys are most often susceptible to urethritis in childhood. This is due to the narrowing of the child’s foreskin, under which infection can accumulate and subsequently move into the urethra. The development of urethritis in boys is mostly acute and exhibits the following symptoms:
- Itching and burning during urination, sometimes the child refuses to pee because of the upcoming pain.
- Frequent urge to urinate. It is worth noting that infants and one-year-old children pee much more often than older children, so this criterion is determined based on the daily standard number of urinations of the child.
- Presence of pus, white discharge or blood in the urine.
- The color of the urine becomes dark and cloudy.
- The genital organ turns red and may swell slightly. Young children begin to touch and rub their penis frequently due to itching.
For girls
Urethritis in girls can develop both acute and chronic form, and due to the short urethra there is a high probability of bladder infection.
Signs of the disease in girls:
- frequent urination;
- itching and burning of the external genitalia;
- nagging pain in the lower abdomen;
- redness and swelling of the urethra.
In some cases, girls have minor external changes in urine, but aching pain constantly accompanies the child. This may not only be a sign of urethritis, so it is important to get diagnosed and identify the cause.
Analysis for urethritis in children
If the above symptoms occur, you must contact a pediatric specialist - a urologist or gynecologist. He will conduct a diagnosis, which includes:
- Collecting anamnesis through a conversation with the parents or child. The doctor is interested in the main symptoms manifested, the presence of chronic diseases, previous infections and operations performed.
- A visual examination of the genital organs will allow you to understand the degree of urethritis.
- Blood and urine analysis according to Nichiporenko, as well as bacterial culture of scrapings.
- Ultrasound examination of the kidneys and bladder.
- During urethrography, the urethra is examined using X-rays, after filling it with contrast. This examination is carried out only when chronic course diseases.
Based on the test results, the doctor will prescribe therapy.
Treatment
When preparing a treatment package for a child, the doctor should be guided by the cause of the disease, accompanying complications or symptoms, the child’s age and individual intolerance.
It is worth noting that a large number of Medicines for urethritis are contraindicated for young children due to the underdevelopment and weakness of the genitourinary system.
You can study this topic in detail from Dr. Komarovsky. Complex therapy may include:
- antibacterial drugs, narrowly targeted or broad spectrum, depending on the type of pathogen;
- antiallergic agents, help relieve swelling and itching;
- antiseptics that prevent the development of bacteria;
- drugs that stimulate the immune system, especially if urethritis occurs after an infectious disease;
- Physiotherapy also helps strengthen the immune system.
Traditional medicine recipes can be used as additional treatment. Baths based on herbs such as string and chamomile are considered a wonderful remedy. But such procedures must be discussed with your doctor.
Complications and consequences
If the course of treatment is not followed or the symptoms are ignored, consequences may occur in both boys and girls.
Urethritis can develop into a chronic form in a short time and cause serious discomfort with the slightest decrease in immunity or hypothermia. Treatment of the disease in this case is longer.
If the infection spreads vertically, there is a possibility of cystitis, as well as pyelonephritis or inflammation of the ureters. Girls may develop vaginitis, vulvitis, and in the future, infertility. Boys, in turn, are at risk of developing diseases such as balanoposthitis, epididymitis, prostatitis and orchitis. For both sexes, regardless of age, untreated urethritis is dangerous pathological change urethra, as well as Reiter's syndrome.
Urethritis in children is an inflammation of the urethra (urethra) of chronic or acute form. More often this disease occurs in boys, due to anatomical features.
Non-infectious factors causing urethritis in children include:
- active lifestyle of the child;
- violation of hygiene rules;
- untimely urination (for example, a child is forced to endure the urge on a long trip);
- tight underwear;
- consumption of foods not recommended for children (fatty, salty, smoked, sour, marinades);
- weakened immune system ( frequent colds, allergic reactions);
- hypothermia (especially if the child’s feet are frozen);
- damaged urethra due to previous manipulations (insertion of a catheter, removal of stones, surgical interventions).
Pathogens that cause urethritis in a child:
- mycoplasma;
- ureaplasma;
- trichomanas;
- gonococci;
- streptococci;
- staphylococci.
Gonococci under magnification Urethritis can be a consequence of the following diseases:
- inflammation of the bladder walls;
- jades;
- inflammation of the prostate gland;
- balanoposthitis (inflammation of the head of the penis);
- vulvitis (inflammation of the genital organs in girls).
After three years, urethritis in boys can cause phimosis. This is a narrowing of the foreskin, in which urine accumulates and is released drop by drop, creating a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
In this case, boys are shown surgery, by partial circumcision or complete removal foreskin.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of an inflammatory process in the urethra are:
- frequent urge to empty the bladder;
- burning sensation during urination;
- itching of the genitals.
Signs of urethritis in boys:
- bloody traces in the urine;
- discharge interspersed with pus;
- mucous discharge.
Atypical signs in girls are pain in the lower abdomen. Urethritis can develop even in infants under one year of age. The onset of symptoms cannot be missed, as the child feels discomfort every time he urinates. Because of severe itching in the genital area, the child can scratch this area until it bleeds.
Urethritis in children very quickly passes from an acute manifestation to a chronic condition, symptoms and treatment are extremely important in order to prevent this.
Diagnostics
If you have the symptoms described above, you should contact your pediatrician. To make a diagnosis, the attending physician may prescribe the following types of analysis and examination to the child:
- general urine analysis;
- bacterial culture of urine;
- ultrasound examination of the pelvis;
- urethroscopy and other techniques.
Treatment options
Once the diagnosis of acute or chronic urethritis is confirmed, the doctor proceeds to the treatment stage. The gender of the child plays an important role here. In boys, the process is intense, so they are usually prescribed bed rest. 
Urethritis under magnification
Treatment of urethritis in children occurs using the following methods:
- Antibacterial therapy. Until the type of pathogen is determined, broad-spectrum antibacterial medications are prescribed. These include antibiotics of the synthetic penicillin group, 2nd and 3rd generation cephalosporins, and macrolides.
Doses for children under 5 years of age are selected carefully, depending on the severity of the disease, exact age, and body weight. If the pathogen is identified, the appropriate strain of antibiotic is prescribed. Treatment is similar for adults.
- Anti-inflammatory drugs;
- External treatment with antiseptics (chlorhexidine, miramistin, dermobacter), only for the chronic form of the disease;
- Local procedures: baths, douching, for chronic pathology;
- Preparations to stimulate the immune system (echinacea).
Prevention
For successful treatment and to prevent re-inflammation, several rules should be followed:
- drinking plenty of water;
- high-quality and regular hygiene;
- dietary food;
- weather-appropriate clothing and shoes;
- boosting immunity (chamomile decoctions, viburnum and black currant juice).
Folk remedies
Urethritis can be treated using phototherapy. It is important to know that independent use and choice of such treatment is not very effective. You should definitely consult a doctor. For treatment, a combination of infusions and antibacterial drugs is used.
In many urological fees included medicinal plants such as:
- chamomile;
- sage;
- horsetail;
- bearberry,
In equal proportions you need to take:
- mint leaves;
- nettle leaves;
- calamus rhizomes;
- dog-rose fruit;
- black elderberry flowers;
- linden flowers.
Two tablespoons of the mixture are poured into 500 ml of hot boiled water, insist for twenty minutes. The infusion is filtered and taken in two doses after and before going to bed once (a glass).
It is also possible to prepare an infusion from the mixture:
- St. John's wort;
- mint;
- black currant;
- rose hips;
- corn silk;
- lingonberry leaves;
- horsetail;
- parsley;
- roots of creeping wheatgrass.
The mixture is poured with a liter of boiling water, infused for 1-2 hours, and filtered. Drink in equal portions throughout the day. Herbal infusions should be taken with caution by children under 7 years of age, as a large number of components can cause an allergic reaction.
Possible complications
Urethritis in a child can cause many complications:
- chronic urethritis, which can last for months or years;
- cystitis;
- pyelonephritis;
- prostatitis;
- in severe cases it can cause infertility.
