Dangers to the kidneys In urinary tract infections, babies often need antibiotics

Urinary Tract Infections in Babies: Antibiotic therapy is often important
Urinary tract infections are among the most common childhood bacterial infections. Although various natural home remedies are available for the treatment of cystitis, sometimes babies also need rapid therapy with antibiotics. Otherwise there is a danger to the kidneys.

Infection can lead to kidney pelvic inflammation
Urinary tract inflammation is one of the most common childhood bacterial infections. Especially in infants and young children, ascending germs of a urinary tract infection due to the immaturity of the kidney kidney can lead to inflammation of the renal pelvis. Cystitis should therefore always be treated early by the pediatrician. This is indicated by the Professional Association of Paediatricians (BVKJ) on its website "kinderaerzte-im-netz.de".

Cystitis is one of the most common childhood bacterial infections. While home remedies can sometimes help with urinary tract infections, babies often need antibiotic therapy. (Image: Andrey Popov / fotolia.com)

Home remedies for the treatment of cystitis
Although "more harmless" painkillers or natural home remedies for cystitis are also available, in babies a rapid antibiotic therapy is often important in a urinary tract infection. Otherwise, an inflammation of the renal pelvis may develop unnoticed, which also spreads to the tissue of the kidney. If this causes scarring in the kidney tissue, it may worsen the function of the organ.

Many children are resistant to antibiotic treatment
A problem in this context, however, is that more and more children with urinary tract infections are resistant to treatment with antibiotics. Researchers from the University of Bristol and Imperial College London recently reported this in the journal British Medical Journal (BMJ). According to the medical profession, it is urgent to reconsider the current approaches to the treatment of urinary tract infections.

Drink a lot and heat can help
As the experts at the BVKJ explain, babies and older children can also be a little bit better off. "Parents should provide their child with plenty of fluids to flush the urinary tract well (for example, still mineral water). For breastfed infants, breast milk is enough, "reads the website. And further: "Diuretic teas are only suitable for children from school age, as they can irritate the bladder very much. Warm baths relieve the pain, have a relaxing effect and make it easier to urinate. "Heat, especially on the feet and lower abdomen, can prevent infections. Children should not sit on a damp or cold surface. (Ad)