In-home urinary tract infection (UTI) treatment for kids.

Convenient & comfortable care for pediatric UTIs

Did you know that UTIs are common in kids? If your child is displaying the symptoms of a UTI, don’t ignore the warning signs. Instead, call on DispatchHealth. We provide same-day, in-home medical treatment from qualified medical teams at an affordable price—about the same as an urgent care center. In fact, the cost of a visit from DispatchHealth is about one tenth of the cost of an emergency room visit.

So, beyond sensible cost, why should you choose DispatchHealth for pediatric UTI treatment? For starters, if you’ve ever had a UTI, you know how unpleasant this condition can be. Pelvic pain and a persistent urge to urinate can make it difficult for your child to stray too far from the bathroom, and dragging him or her to a bustling urgent care center or emergency room only to squirm on uncomfortable waiting room furniture is not the wisest idea. Of course, visiting a pediatrician is typically best, but a painful UTI necessitates same-day treatment that an overbooked primary care physician can’t always provide. Seeking treatment from DispatchHealth can allow your child to remain in the comfort of home while enjoying his or her favorite movie or snacks. Your DispatchHealth medical team, which will include a nurse practitioner or physician assistant, an EMT-level trained DispatchHealth medical technician (DHMT), and an ER physician that is available by phone, will be fully equipped to perform onsite urinalysis and prescribe appropriate treatment. They’ll even send a detailed medical report to your child’s regular pediatrician’s office to ensure continuity of care and electronically send prescriptions to your preferred pharmacy if needed.

If this is an emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

UTI symptoms & when to seek treatment

A UTI is a bacterial infection that affects one or more parts of the urinary tract, most often the bladder or the urethra (cystitis). Some of the most tell-tale signs of a pediatric UTI include:

• Pain, burning, or stinging during urination
• A frequent urge to urinate, even when the bladder is empty
• Urine that appears unusually dark, pinkish, or has a very strong odor
• An increase in wetting accidents, even if the child is potty trained
• Pain in the lower tummy or back

Be sure to promptly seek medical care if your child is displaying any symptoms of a UTI. The sooner your child is diagnosed, the faster he or she can find relief.

What causes UTIs in kids?

Bacteria is to blame for urinary tract infections in people of all ages. This condition occurs when bacteria enters the urethra—the duct in the genital area where urine exits—and begins to spread up the urinary tract and into the bladder. The body’s urinary system naturally defends against such invaders in most cases, but bacteria can sometimes prevail.

How to prevent pediatric UTIs

UTIs aren’t always preventable, but implementing the following healthy habits can help your child maintain good urinary health and reduce the chance of infection:

• Keep them hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can encourage your child to use the restroom frequently, which helps flush bacteria out of the urinary tract and encourage your child to use the restroom regularly.
• Encourage healthy bathroom habits. After using the restroom, teach your child to wipe thoroughly and from front to back to help prevent the spread of bacteria. Also make sure your child uses the restroom frequently throughout the day (no holding pee!) and empties his or her bladder completely.
• Serve cranberry juice. The jury is still out on the overall effectiveness of cranberry juice when it comes to preventing UTIs, but some professionals believe it can promote good urinary health.
• Avoid bubble baths. Frothy and fragrant bubble baths and soaps are known to cause skin irritation and increase the risk of UTIs.
• Buy cotton underwear. Nylon underwear is more likely to promote bacteria growth, so opt for cotton undergarments on your next shopping trip.
• Quickly change dirty diapers. No brainer here—sitting in a dirty diaper for too long can increase the risk of infection.

Girls are at higher risk of contracting UTIs than boys, so it is especially important to utilize these tips if you have a daughter or if your child was born with a urinary tract abnormality.

If left untreated

Despite what you may have heard on mom blogs or social media, no amount of cranberry juice can treat a UTI. If your child is displaying UTI symptoms, it is important to promptly seek professional medical care. If left untreated, the infection can spread beyond the urinary tract and infect the kidneys, causing a condition called pyelonephritis, which necessitates more extensive treatment than a UTI. Additional complications may then develop that can even lead to kidney damage.

You can take a deep breath, though, because pediatric UTI treatment is typically very simple and effective. Most kids feel 100 percent better after a few days of antibiotics. In severe cases, antibiotics may need to be taken for a week or longer. While the antibiotics are at work, you can help your child feel better by placing a warm (not hot!) heating pad on their lower tummy and providing hydrating snacks like watermelon, grapefruit, celery with peanut butter, or popsicles.

If you believe your child as a UTI, do your child (and yourself) a favor by calling DispatchHealth for quick, comfortable, and comprehensive in-home treatment. Requesting care for non-life-threatening conditions is simple—just give us a call, download our app, or request care via our website. We are here to help 365 days a year, and have extended hours. Plus, we accept most major health insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, and offer affordable flat rates for self-pay patients.