Urinary Tract Infection
DEFINITION
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is an invasion and overgrowth of pathogenic organisms in the bladder (lower tract), or kidneys (upper tract). It varies in severity from very mild and uncomfortable, to life threatening, and can affect people of all ages. It is more common when there are associated abnormalities of the urinary tract anatomy or function.
Dr Rob is a specialist paediatric urologist trained in the assessment and management of abnormalities of the urinary tract that may predispose children to UTI, such as;
Phimosis and balanitis
Posterior Urethral Valve (PUV)
Vesico-Ureteric Reflux (VUR)
Pelvi-Ureteric Junction Obstruction (PUJO)
Vesico-Ureteric Junction Obstruction (VUJO)
Duplex kidneys & Ureterocele
Neurogenic Bladder
Constipation and bowel dysfunction may be associated with UTI, and as a dual trained Paediatric Urologist and Colorectal Surgeon, Dr Rob has specialist knowledge and skills in all matters that may need addressing to prevent future infections.
OUR APPROACH
Dr Rob will offer you a longer appointment to allow for comprehensive history taking, examination and discussion of your child's management plan. If you have any urine analysis results, or a kidney and bladder ultrasound, it would be best to bring a report of those results with you.
If your child is experiencing bowel symptoms such as constipation or fecal incontinence, or bladder symptoms such as pain, frequency, urgency or wetting, then it is recommended to complete a fluid/bladder/bowel diary. A recommended template can be found here, but if you do not have time to complete, then there is still a lot that can be achieved in your appointment with Dr Rob.
Most children will respond to behavioural, medical and non operative management. Depending on the underlying cause, some children undergo diagnostic procedures, and very few need significant surgery to reduce or cure their recurrent UTI’s.