Newborn
Congratulations on your new arrival! At Loudoun Pediatric Associates, the physicians and staff welcome you and look forward to caring for your child.
Health
-Infants need to sleep on their backs or sides. Do not put your baby to sleep on his/her stomach. Research shows this decreases SIDS by almost 50%. Most newborns sleep 16-18 hours per day.
-Bathe your infant 2-3 times per week with a mild soap. Bathing more often can dry their skin. Peeling is normal during the first two weeks. Avoid lotions-they sometimes cause reactions on infant skin. Keep the umbilical cord dry.
-Hiccups, sneezing and nasal congestion are typical for newborns. Fevers are not. Report any temperature over 100.0 to your physician immediately. Temperatures should be taken rectally. Ear thermometers are not accurate in infants under 8-10 months. Limit visitors and avoid crowds to prevent exposure to illnesses during the first two months.
Feeding
-Feed your infant with breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Do not give cow's milk until 12 months of age.
-Most newborns breastfeed 10-20 minutes on each breast every 2-3 hours, or take 2-3 ounces of formula every 2-3 hours. Be careful not to overfeed. You may want to try a pacifier if your baby wants to feed more than this.
-Babies do not need extra water. Do not give plain water until after 6 months of age.
-Always use a car seat. Make sure it is installed correctly in your vehicle. Five point harnesses are the safest. Straps should be snug against your baby's body when fastened.
-Lower your hot water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent accidental burns.
-Do not leave your baby unattended with your pets (no matter how good of a pet they are). Pets are still animals, and can act unpredictably.
Development
-Newborns can hear, see, smell, taste and feel. They can focus on objects 8-10 inches away. They respond to gentle voices and touch, especially that of their parents.
-The majority of a newborn's time is spent eating and sleeping.
2 months old
Health
-Continue to put your baby to sleep on his/her back. This is the most crucial time to continue this to try and prevent SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). Many babies are more comfortable on their stomachs and seem to sleep better. This does not matter! Babies still need to be placed on their backs to sleep.
-If you suspect your infant has a fever, take a rectal temperature (ear thermometers are not accurate in infants under 8-10 months). Call for any fever of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or more.
Feeding
-Continue feeding breast milk or iron-fortified formula. Do not introduce solids until after four months of age.
-Do not give plain water until after six months of age.
Safety
-Do not leave your infant in a bouncy chair or any other device on an elevated surface (counter, table, bed, etc.) Even infants who are not yet “mobile” are in danger of falling off of high surfaces.
-Get in the habit of always buckling your infant into everything – stroller, changing table, swing, bouncy seat, car seat, etc. Even babies who do not move around are in danger of falling out.
Development
-Babies can follow you with their eyes and recognize you. They can coo back and forth with you.
-Encourage tummy time (lying your baby on their stomach for short periods of time) while your baby is awake.
4 months old
Health
-Many infants start to have teething symptoms at this time. These consist of drooling, gnawing on things, and occasional irritability. Despite these symptoms, teeth may still not appear for several months. Most infants feel relief from gnawing on cold objects or teething rings. Teething gels offer temporary relief, but many babies do not like the taste or numbing sensation. Homeopathic teething tablets are helpful for some. You may also try Tylenol.
-Many cough and cold medications are not recommended for infants this age. Please ask one of our providers before you give any over-the-counter medications.
Feeding
-May start solids sometime between 4-6 months. Start with cereal, and then gradually add fruits and vegetables. Introduce one new food at a time so you can identify the cause of any rashes, vomiting or diarrhea.
-Do not give plain water until after six months of age.
Safety
-Remove all toys, blankets, stuffed animals or any other objects from the crib to prevent choking or suffocation.
-Continue to buckle your child into everything possible – stroller, changing table, bouncy seat, etc.
-Babies explore with their mouths at this age. Anything they can pick up will likely go right into their mouths. Be careful to keep all small objects (coins, toy pieces, paper clips, nuts, etc.) out of their reach.
Development
-Your infant is continuing to explore with all the senses of sight, touch, smell, sound and taste. Provide brightly colored objects, gentle music and conversation.
6 months old
Health
-Many infants start to have teething symptoms at this time. These consist of drooling, gnawing on things, and occasional irritability. Despite these symptoms, teeth may still not appear for several months. Most infants feel relief from gnawing on cold objects or teething rings. Teething gels offer temporary relief, but many babies do not like the taste or numbing sensation. Homeopathic teething tablets are helpful for some. You may also try Tylenol.
-Many cough and cold medications are not recommended for infants this age. Please ask your physician before you give any over-the-counter medications.
-Do not put a bottle of breast milk, formula or juice in the crib with your baby. All of these contain sugar and will cause cavities if they are in contact with the teeth while sleeping. If you must put a bottle in the crib, fill it with water only.
Feeding
-You may introduce easily dissolvable foods such as cheerios or teething toast. Continue with two helpings of infant cereal and at least two helpings of jarred baby food per day. Continue breast milk or formula.
-Introduce a sippy cup. Most babies will not drink well from it until 9-12 months, but allow yours to experiment with it.
-Avoid foods that may cause an allergic reaction if given to your child before 12 months of age: eggs, nuts/nut products, milk/dairy products, strawberries, shell fish, wheat, and soy.
-Avoid foods that may be easily choked on: Hot dogs, raw apples, raw carrots, grapes, nuts, stringy foods, large chunks, popcorn, raisins, hard candy
Safety
-Remove crib bumpers and mobiles from the crib and lower the crib mattress as your infant will soon be crawling around and pulling up to stand.
-Even if your infant has reached 20 pounds, they must remain in a rear-facing car seat until 12 months of age.
-Your baby will soon be moving around the house. Use gates at stairways and doors. Cover sharp-edged corners on furniture. Do not let cords or table cloths hang off of furniture. Keep small chokable objects picked up.
-Do not drink hot beverages while holding your child, or leave them on the table or counter edges, where they can spill onto an infant below.
-Never leave your infant alone in the bath tub or sink.
Development
-Most babies are rolling over and will soon sit up, crawl and pull to stand.
-Now is a perfect time to start reading to your baby. Firm board books and books with brightly colored pictures are recommended. A few minutes at a time are all that is needed.
-Babies love to hold and explore simple toys. Make sure there are no small parts they could choke on.
9 months old
Health
Do not put a bottle of breast milk, formula or juice in the crib with your baby. All of these contain sugar and will cause cavities if they are in contact with the teeth while sleeping. If you must put a bottle in the crib, fill it with water only.
Feeding
-You may introduce small bites of soft, easily chewed foods, such as cooked vegetables, noodles, crackers, fruits or lunch meats. Some babies are ready for this and some are not. If your baby spits these foods out or starts to gag on them, try again in 1-2 weeks.
-Avoid foods that may cause an allergic reaction if given to your child before 12 months of age: eggs, nuts/nut products, milk/dairy products, strawberries, shell fish, wheat, and soy.
-Avoid foods that may be easily choked on: Hot dogs, raw apples, raw carrots, grapes, nuts, stringy foods, large chunks, popcorn, raisins, hard candy
-Continue breast milk or iron-fortified formula until 12 months.
-Continue letting your baby practice with a sippy cup.
Safety
-This is the age where most babies are mobile, through crawling, scooting, rolling, cruising or walking. BABY PROOF YOUR HOUSE. Get on your hands and knees and crawl around to see what is at their eye-level.
-Keep doors closed. Put locks on cabinets and drawers that contain cleaners, beauty products, sharp objects or breakable objects. Secure furniture so it cannot tip over onto your infant. Use electric outlet covers.
-Adjust your hot water heater to 120 degrees. Put locks on your toilets or keep your bathroom doors closed.
-Your baby will soon be moving around the house. Use gates at stairways and doors. Cover sharp-edged corners on furniture. Do not let cords or table cloths hang off of furniture. Keep small chokable objects picked up.
-Do not drink hot beverages while holding your child, or leave them on the table or counter edges, where they can spill onto an infant below.
-Remove crib bumpers and mobiles from the crib and lower the crib mattress as your infant will soon be crawling around and pulling up to stand.
-Even if your infant has reached 20 pounds, he or she must remain in a rear-facing car seat until 12 months of age.
-Never leave your infant alone in the bath tub or sink.
Development
-Babies are learning to crawl, scoot, roll, cruise or walk.
-They are starting to learn social games, such as pat-a-cake, peek-a-boo and bye-bye.
-They enjoy exploring toys, hearing music and looking at picture books.
-May prefer eating with their hands rather than being fed. This allows them to discover the texture, smell and consistency of food. It's natural for them to be messy and drop food-spread newspapers under the high chair or just plan on cleaning the floor afterwards.
-Common words are ma-ma, da-da, hi, no, ba-ba, or something similar.
-Infants at this age are starting to show a range of emotions, including frustration and anger. This is normal and is their only way to express themselves since they can not talk yet. If your infant is upset or having a tantrum, try to remedy the problem or distract them with a toy or other object. They are too young to comprehend discipline at this age.
12 months old
Health
-Do not put a bottle of breast milk, formula or juice in the crib with your baby. All of these contain sugar and will cause cavities if they are in contact with the teeth while sleeping. If you must put a bottle in the crib, fill it with water only.
-If your child has teeth, start brushing them using a soft child-size tooth brush and children's fluoride containing tooth paste. Use only a pea-sized amount of tooth paste. All children resist this at some point (some very strongly) but it is important to establish the habit twice a day.
-Your child should be weaned from the pacifier between 12-15 months. Most children will resist this, but pacifiers can interfere with dental development and speech at this critical age. Pacifiers also cause a pooling of saliva around the teeth which can encourage cavities. Find another “comfort object” your child can use, such as with a doll or stuffed animal.
-Shoes are meant only to protect the feet at this point. Expensive shoes will not help your child walk earlier, improve their arch (children are naturally flat-footed) or make them stable.
-Many children have one or both feet that point in or point out when they walk. This is normal at this age. Mild bowing of the lower legs is also normal. All of these conditions generally improve with time, and special devices to “correct” them are unnecessary and not used anymore.
Feeding
-You may now start giving whole milk to your child. Do not give 2%, 1% or skim-children need the fat content of whole milk to nurture continuing brain development.
-Your child should transition from a bottle to a sippy cup between 12 and 15 months. You can encourage this by only putting water in the bottle and putting milk and juice in the sippy cup.
-Most children are picky eaters at some point. Some days they will eat well and other days they will not. Continue to offer a nutritious, well balanced diet. You can supplement with liquid vitamin drops (such as Poly-vi-sol or Gerber Vitamin Drops) once a day.
Safety
-Children at this age are walking or will be within the next few months. BABY PROOF YOUR HOUSE.
-Get on your hands and knees and crawl around to see what is at their eye-level. Keep doors closed. Put locks on cabinets and drawers that contain cleaners, beauty products, sharp objects or breakable objects.
-Secure furniture so it cannot tip over onto your infant. Use electric outlet covers. Adjust your hot water heater to 120 degrees. Put locks on your toilets or keep your bathroom doors closed.
-Your baby will soon be moving around the house. Use gates at stairways and doors. Cover sharp-edged corners on furniture. Do not let cords or table cloths hang off of furniture. Keep small chokable objects picked up.
-Do not drink hot beverages while holding your child, or leave them on the table or counter edges, where they can spill onto an infant below.
-Remove crib bumpers and mobiles from the crib and lower the crib mattress as your infant will soon be crawling around and pulling up to stand.
-Even if your infant has reached 20 pounds, they must remain in a rear-facing car seat until 12 months of age.
-Never leave your infant alone in the bath tub or sink.
-Your child may ride in a forward facing car seat if they are over 20 pounds. They still must ride in the back seat.
Development
-At this age your child will enjoy pushing and pulling toys and climbing stairs.
-Can follow simple commands.
-Will expand vocabulary, but may not say “real” words until 15-18 months. Should understand most or all of what you say. Spend time naming objects and describing things. Start to name body parts.
-Learns a great deal from books. Board books are great for this age.
-Will enjoy stacking objects and putting things into containers as well as dumping them out.
-Show a range of emotions. If they are frustrated or upset, showing them how to fix the problem or distracting them are still the most effective responses.
15-18 months old
Health
-If your child has teeth, start brushing them using a soft child-size tooth brush and children's fluoride containing tooth paste. Use only a pea-sized amount of tooth paste. All children resist this at some point (some very strongly) but it is important to establish the habit twice a day.
-Your child should be weaned from the pacifier between 12-15 months. Most children will resist this, but pacifiers can interfere with dental development and speech at this critical age. Pacifiers also cause a pooling of saliva around the teeth which can encourage cavities. Find another “comfort object” your child can use, such as with a doll or stuffed animal.
-Shoes are meant only to protect the feet at this point. Expensive shoes will not help your child walk earlier, improve their arch (children are naturally flat-footed) or make them ore stable.
Feeding
-Now is the time to replace your child's bottle with a sippy cup.
-Most children are picky eaters at some point. Some days they will eat well and other days they will not. Continue to offer a nutritious, well balanced diet. You can supplement with liquid vitamin drops (such as Poly-vi-sol or Gerber Vitamin Drops) once a day.
Safety
-Children at this age are walking or will be within the next few months. BABY PROOF YOUR HOUSE.
-Get on your hands and knees and crawl around to see what is at their eye-level. Keep doors closed. Put locks on cabinets and drawers that contain cleaners, beauty products, sharp objects or breakable objects.
-Secure furniture so it cannot tip over onto your infant. Use electric outlet covers. Adjust your hot water heater to 120 degrees. Put locks on your toilets or keep your bathroom doors closed.
-Your baby will soon be moving around the house. Use gates at stairways and doors. Cover sharp-edged corners on furniture. Do not let cords or table cloths hang off of furniture. Keep small chokable objects picked up
-Do not drink hot beverages while holding your child, or leave them on the table or counter edges, where they can spill onto an infant below.
-Remove crib bumpers and mobiles from the crib and lower the crib mattress as your infant will soon be crawling around and pulling up to stand.
-Never leave your infant alone in the bath tub or sink.
-Your child may ride in a forward facing car seat if they are over 20 pounds. They still must ride in the back seat.
Development
-At this age, your child will become more independent in expressing likes and dislikes.
-Will want to do more things for themselves.
-Will start building a vocabulary. Talk with him/her often and avoid baby talk. Repeat his/her words and phrases if you can.
-They will respond more to positive reinforcement than negative consequences.
-Can help with simple tasks, such as putting away a few toys or throwing garbage away.
-Continue to learn from being read to.
-They enjoy simple songs and nursery rhymes.
-Can start exploring playground equipment under your careful supervision.
24 months old
Health
-Your child needs to ride in a car seat until he/she weighs 40 pounds.
-Continue to help your child brush his/her teeth with children's fluoride toothpaste, if your child's teeth appear healthy, their first dental visit should be around age three. That is usually when they can cooperate well during the visit. If their teeth do not appear healthy, go now.
-Continue to supervise your child in the bathtub. Bubble baths may cause genital discomfort, especially in girls.
Feeding
-You may now give chewable vitamin supplements. Some brands recommend giving only ½ of a chewable vitamin to 2 year olds. Be sure to read the directions.
-Most children continue to be picky eaters. Be sure to offer well-balanced nutritional meals that include at least one food you know your child will eat.
-Your child should not be using a pacifier or bottle anymore.
-You should consistently encourage use of a fork, spoon and napkin during meals.
Safety
-Children remain curious and unaware of danger at this age. Continue to watch them carefully in all situations, especially around swimming pools.
Development
-At this age, your child may begin to toilet train
-Will start repeating words, phrases and actions they are exposed to. Limit the amount of violence and harsh language they see and hear.
-They will play well along side of other children not necessarily with them. They are just beginning to understand the concept of sharing.
-They continue to learn from reading and books.
-They begin to learn counting, shapes and colors.
FAQs for Sick Children
Please be aware that the information presented below is intended as a reference and should not substitute for the advice of a healthcare provider. Please do not hesitate to call our office if you have any questions at all.
Colic
Newborns with colic have long-lasting periods of crying and fussing. The cause of colic is unknown but is probably related to the baby’s temperament. It occurs in infants from birth to age 3 months. Crying usually occurs around the same time each day, in the evening most often. Episodes may last up to three hours and are obviously very stressful for parents. The baby’s face may become red and flushed, the belly may seem tense, and he/she may pull the legs up over the belly. It may seem like nothing you do helps to stop the crying and the baby may simply continue crying until he or she falls asleep from exhaustion. Sometimes the crying finally stops when the baby passes gas or has a bowel movement.
Many conditions mimic colic including formula intolerance, formula allergy, swallowing excess air, gastroesophageal reflux, urinary tract infection, and many others. It is necessary for us to see your child in the office to determine what is causing the problem. If crying is severe, prolonged, or if accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation we should evaluate the child right away.
There are several things to try which may soothe a crying baby. Avoid overstimulation, especially around feeding time. Try soothing techniques such as rocking or quiet music. Improve feeding techniques by burping your child well. Try not to get too upset yourself, even though this can be difficult. If you really need a break, there’s no harm in leaving your baby cry in the crib for a few minutes or with another caretaker.
Croup
A croupy cough is a tight barking (like a seal) sounding cough. The voice or cry is hoarse usually and sometimes there is a fever and congestion. If there is struggling to breathe or grunting the child should be evaluated immediately. Things that can be done at home are the warm steamy shower/fogged bathroom, or inhale cold air in front of an open freezer. Increasing fluids is also important.
Diaper Rash
Most diaper rashes are irritations to the wetness in the diaper. So most important is air drying the area several times a day. Using an over the counter diaper ointment can be helpful when applied every diaper change. Call for an appointment if there is no improvement.
Eczema
Eczema is a chronic, red, itchy skin disorder that is very common, affecting 10% of children. It is often seen in children who have allergies. The skin is usually dry and may also become thickened with time. In babies it often begins on the cheeks and forehead and then spreads to the body, arms, and legs. In older children, the rash commonly occurs in the elbow creases and behind the knees, wrists, and ankles.
The cause of eczema is unknown. When it is severe, there is often an allergy that is making it worse. Foods such as eggs and peanuts, pollens, and house dust mites are all common allergic triggers for eczema. Very hot/humid or very cold/dry weather can worsen eczema, as can wool clothing. Scratching of the itchy skin will aggravate eczema as well.
There is no cure for eczema, meaning no treatment that will make it go away and never come back. Fortunately, most children see their eczema improve or resolve as they get older. There are many treatments that can manage eczema very effectively. Most important is the use of moisturizers twice a day. Eucerin and Aquaphor are popular choices. The best time to moisturize is after bathing with a moisturizing soap such as Dove. Apply the moisturizer within 3 minutes of drying your child off with a towel to trap moisture in the skin.
If your child’s eczema is triggered by a food allergy, avoid that food. If a dust mite allergy is the problem, special pillow and mattress covers may be helpful. Keep your child’s fingernails short to reduce the impact of scratching. Topical steroid ointments are an important part of treatment. Oral antihistamines can help eczema by relieving itching, especially at night. Since these medications can have side effects if not used properly, we will evaluate your child in the office and select the right amount of treatment for his/her eczema. We will also make any necessary referrals to allergists or dermatologists in the case of severe eczema.
Eczema can become infected, so call our office right away if there is redness, oozing crusting, and/or fever.
Insect Bites
If the insect bites are itchy and swollen, it's okay to apply hydrocortisone cream 1% (i.e. Cortaid or other brand) twice a day as needed for 5-7 days. You may also give Benadryl by mouth every 6-8 hours as needed. If there is a firm redness that's spreading, if the area is painful, warm, or if there is crusty drainage that looks like pus make an appointment to have it evaluated.
For prevention, please wear long pants/sleeves and use insect repellant during the early morning/evening times when the insects are out. Insect repellant is fine for children if it contains <10% DEET. Often times, it is easier to apply if you spray it first on your hands then rub the spray on your children.
Immunization Reaction
Common side effects following vaccination include local reactions such as redness, swelling, or tenderness at the site of injection and fever less than 103 degrees F. It is okay to apply a cool soak to the area, give Tylenol or Ibuprofen (older than 6 months of age) if fussy or uncomfortable. If the symptoms persist more than 48 hours, call our office for advice or an appointment. Refer to your vaccine handouts for further information on side effects for each vaccine. For MMR and Chicken Pox, it is possible to have a delayed fever and possibly rash that starts 6-12 days after the vaccine. Call if this occurs or there are any concerns.
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when the contents of the stomach, including stomach acid, move upward (reflux) into the esophagus (swallowing tube). In infants, reflux is a fairly common problem (spitting up) that usually clears up with time. Gastroesophageal reflux becomes a disease (GERD) when it occurs enough to cause heartburn pain, respiratory symptoms, and other problems.
In babies, you may see milk or formula coming out of the mouth. Infants may be fussy, cry, arch their back, or refuse feedings. There may be slow weight gain. Symptoms occur commonly after meals. Older children may complain of a sour taste in their mouths, cough or clear their throats, or have a hoarse voice. Reflux may make asthma worse. Long term problems that occur in adults such as esophagus damage are rare in children.
It can be difficult to diagnose reflux in children. Symptom history is most important. Tests such as X-rays (Upper GI Series), pH probe, and Endoscopy (flexible camera used to look down esophagus) are occasionally helpful. Usually a course of antacid medications are tried initially. Also helpful is to thicken feedings with rice cereal and elevate the head of the bed slightly.
Call our office if you think your child has symptoms of GERD, especially if your child has frequent vomiting, vomiting with weight loss, painful swallowing, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, chest or stomach pain, choking, gagging, or apnea (temporary interruptions of breathing during sleep).
Ear Infection
If your child is verbal and complains of ear pain, or crying and tugging of the ear in a younger child, you may use a warm pack applied externally over the ear to help alleviate the pain. If this inconveniently happens at night, continue supportive care until the morning and call our office to make an appointment, or come to the walk-in sick clinic (Mon-Fri in both offices from 7:30AM - 8:30AM).
If the pain is not improved with the above measures or there is drainage of fluid or blood from the ear, call the provider.
Ear infections are caused by viruses or bacteria that entered through the nose or mouth, causing an upper respiratory infection whereby fluid enters the middle ear. This fluid may cause some pressure feeling or may get infected and cause inflammation of the ear drum. Your provider will be able to discuss with you antibiotic treatment versus "watchful waiting" after evaluation.
Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis)
Conjunctivitis or Pink Eye can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies. Commonly this occurs with viral upper respiratory infections. In most cases it is a self limited process and will resolve on its own after a few days. If there is any yellow/green mucoid discharge from the eye or eye lid swelling call our office. Children should not be in school or daycare if there is colored discharge from the eye, otherwise they are allowed. Wash your hands carefully as these germs are spread by contact.
Allergic conjunctivitis will also cause redness of eye, watering, and itching of the eye. Cool compresses sometimes help alleviate the swelling and provide some comfort. Benadryl orally can help with the itching and swelling. If symptoms are not alleviated with the above measures, there is a lot of eye lid swelling, or discomfort, call our office.
Poison Ivy
Keep the involved areas clean and use 1% hydrocortisone cream 3-4 times a day. You may also use oral Benadryl (over the counter) or Zyrtec (a prescription) to relieve the itching. If swelling occurs call for an office visit.
Strep Throat
If your child complains of a sore throat along with possibly fever, headache, stomach ache, nausea or vomiting, call our office to make an appointment to have your child tested for strep. Your child will be swabbed by our nurse or medical assistant and a quick test is run. If it is positive, an prescription for antibiotics will be written. If it is negative, a culture will be performed and you will be notified the next day only if it is positive. If your child's strep test(s) are negative and sore throat persists after a few days or symptoms are worsening, call our office.
Teething
Provide hard, cold teething toys to chew on. Over the counter medication lasts only a minute or two. One homeopathic medication has a tiny amount of opiate in it and should not be used. It is important to note that teething does not cause significant fever, irritability, or illness symptoms.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of the bladder, kidneys, or both. They are caused by bacteria that spread from fecal (bowel movement) material. Without proper treatment, UTI’s may lead to kidney damage. It is important to call our office as soon as possible if you suspect your child may have a UTI.
The main symptoms of UTI’s are pain and/or burning with urination, frequent urination, wetting accidents, abnormal smelling urine, nausea and vomiting, and fever. Fever occurs when the infection has spread to the kidneys and may be the only symptom in an infant or young child. These fevers are usually high grade (over 104) but may be lower initially.
The risk of UTI is higher in girls than boys. Boys who get UTI are most often under 3 months of age and uncircumcised. Factors that increase the risk of UTI include constipation, poor hygiene, and urine-holding behaviors (waiting till the last minute to urinate and then rushing to the bathroom). UTI’s may be the result of a problem with the urinary system, such as reflux (backward flow of urine toward the kidney when the bladder squeezes at urination).
The diagnosis of UTI depends on a properly collected fresh urine sample which we can collect and analyze immediately at our office. All children suspected of having UTI are treated with antibiotics right away. Please schedule an appointment if you suspect that your child may have a UTI.
