When bacteria are found in a child's urine, it is alarming for parents. But is it necessary to worry if the analysis showed the presence of E. coli in the urine, because this microorganism lives in the human intestine? How can E. coli get into urine and what should be done if they are detected?
What analysis is it detected?
A general analysis of urine is only able to show that bacteria are present in the sample, and it is possible to find out which species the microorganisms belong to only with a bacterial study.
Norm
In healthy children, E. coli are found only in the intestines, participating in the processes of food processing. In urine, these microorganisms should not normally be detected.
However, if the analysis determined the number of sticks in one milliliter of urine up to 105 units (and in the presence of complaints - up to 104), this is also referred to as a variant of the norm.
Was the analysis collected incorrectly?
Inadequate collection of a urine sample for testing is one of the common causes of E. coli on the results sheet. These microorganisms from the intestines can enter the skin of the perineum.
If the child is not well washed, E. coli can easily enter the container with the collected urine. That is why the toilet of the child's external genital organs must be thorough, and the collection of urine should be carried out in a sterile container.
For greater accuracy of the result, urine for bacterial culture can be taken using a catheter. This will surely eliminate the risk of bacteria from the genitals.
Reasons for deviations
The main pathological cause of E. coli entering children's urine is a urinary tract infection. Studies have confirmed that 35-50% of pyelonephritis are caused by these microbes. In addition, this type of bacteria often provokes the development of cystitis and urethritis.
The development of such pathologies is facilitated by weak local immunity in babies. When Escherichia coli enter the baby's urethra and bladder, the local defenses do not work. The bacteria adhere to the walls of the urinary tract and cause inflammation.
Additional symptoms for anxiety
Parents may notice such symptoms that occur when E. coli is detected in urine analysis:
- Painful urination. The child may also complain of a burning sensation when urinating or completing the process.
- Increased body temperature.
- The appearance of an unpleasant, pungent odor in urine, as well as impurities and turbidity (there may be clots of pus, blood, mucus in the urine).
- Lumbar pain, which is most often pulling.
- Frequent urination. The child goes to the toilet up to 8-12 times a day and sometimes cannot endure to the toilet.
Treatment
Having identified Escherichia coli in children's urine, the doctor will first make sure that the analysis was carried out correctly, and if the presence of an infectious process in the urinary tract is confirmed, he will prescribe a suitable treatment.
Usually, babies with E. coli in urine are prescribed drugs of the group of antibiotics and uroantiseptics. The dose and duration of admission should be selected by a specialist.
Reviews
Recommendations to take urine from babies for analysis with a catheter often cause misunderstanding and confusion among parents. To clarify this point, more experienced parents note that the catheter should only be used for taking a sample from the bladder by a specialist and in a medical setting. Nurses know how deep the catheter is inserted, and in the hands of a layman, it can cause a deterioration in the child's condition, injuries and the development of an ascending infection.
