“My daughter keeps getting UTIs. Is this a sign of a kidney issue?”
It seems like every few months that my daughter is getting a UTI, and she's only 13 years old. I'm worried that this could be a much deeper issue than just a UTI. Could reoccurring UTIs be a sign of an issue with her kidney?
2 Answers
Fortunately, most girls with recurrent UTIs have do not have a kidney problem unless UTI is accompanied by fever. Needs kidney & bladder ultrasound plus VCUG (bladder X-Ray with X-ray contrast (dye) if fever present with UTIs. In any case preventative measures should be used, these include: 1) Treat & prevent constipation, 2) Shower rather than taking baths, also never ever use bubble-bath, 3) Cotton underpants, 4) pull pants down to ankles & separate thighs with urination, this prevents urine trapping by closed labia, 5) Cranberry juice is a good UTI preventative as it reduces bacterial adherence to bladder wall.
She needs a renal ultrasound and VCUG to make sure she does not have reflux or abnormalities of the kidneys. Make sure she is drinking plenty of water and urinating frequently, especially not holding the urine all day at school.
