Urinary Tract Infection | Autism PDD

Sounds like something is wrong.  I would take her to a Dr. and let them sort it out.  An untreated bladder infection can infect the kidneys.  I would have her tested just to be on the safe side.  My oldest daughter had a bladder infection when she was 4.  Her only symptom was not being able to hold her urine.  No fever no pain.  She was begging for Mr. Bubble in her bath everyday.  The dr. said no more bubble baths.

My daughter has had many incidents where we thought that she had a UTI and nothing ever showed up on culture. Even though we have had tons of negative tests, I always take her to the doctor to a urine culture when she starts to complain of discomfort when urinating.

 We have figured out that my daughter is sensitive to bubble baths (and even shampoo in the bathtub) and these will cause UTI symptoms in her, but are really just irritation.

 

I get UTI's about 3 or 4 times a year.  Usually I notice a raw, itchy feeling that you would expect with a yeast infection but it's not.  It's a UTI.  I have never experienced a foul oder or blood in the urine.  Last time I had one, about 6 weeks ago, I had the worst pain while trying to urinate.  I would either run to the bathroom thinking I had to go and then get in there and not have to go, but the sensation that you have to go is there.  So then it burns and hurts.  When I really did have to go, it felt like I was TT'ing needles.  It was horrible, I would come out of the bathroom in a cold sweat.  I had to have 2 rounds of 2 different kinds of antibiotics to make it go away.  I know take cranberry tablets everyday.  I can't tolerate another one like the last one, it was that bad.  I still had no bleeding and no difference in urine color or smell.  I had a fever for about one day and that was before it really got bad.

If she is just running to the bathroom and thinking she has to TT but doesn't and isn't complaining of hurting or pain, I would think she is ok.  Although that can be the start of it.  You can buy test strips for UTI''s over the counter.  They are called AZO Test Strips for Urinary Tract Infections.  They are expensvie, like for a bottle of 3 and you have to hold it under the urine stream.  Other than that, the doc can do a urine sample to see.  The important thing is figure out what bacteria is present so that the right antibiotic can be used. 

I would say, based on my experience with them, that any kind of difference in TT'ing (like pain, burning, itching, discomfort) paired with going like she is going would need to be checked out.  But if she is just going alot right now and not complaining, get some water and some plain cranberry juice in her ASAP.  Plain cranberry juice has been known to fight UTI's off and help the bladder to rid itself of the bacteria that is stuck in there because of the acid in cranberry juice.  I take cranberry tablets daily now.  I can't handle anymore of what happened with mine the last time. 

I hope she feels better soon and you can get whatever it is taken care of immediatly.

I'm starting to suspect my DD has an Urinary Tract Infection, but I'm not sure, I don't want to take her to the doctor if there isn't anything wrong, but she is going to the bathroom all the time and says she feels like she has to go a lot. Sometimes she will have a lot come out and other times there will be hardly anything. I haven't dealt with this before so I'm not sure what the signs or symptoms would be. She doesn;t have a fever or anything and isn't complaing about any pain, I'm wondering if anyone can give me advice or let me know if this sounds like an infection, thanks

Sarah was suspected of this too (urine very dark and strong odor) she couldn't express if she felt pain or burning at the time.  The doctor wanted a urine sample so I went to her office and got some sample "collection containers" to be able to collect at home because at 3 she would of never been able to do so at the doctor's office.  The doctor wanted to do a cath on her to collect it  but I talked her into letting me do it at home..thank God she was able to "tinkle" in cup:) and it turned up negative..we pushed more fluids in her and she was fine.. Look at her urine and see if it is cloudy, strong or blood in it..she may not get a fever unless it is really bad and you don't want that

Shelley

Hello, Candy!  If you haven't already done so,  you should call DD's physician and ask if you can pick up a urine specimen cup with towellette wipes, bring it home, give DD a cleansing shower or bath, then collect some urine in the cup and bring it back to the physician's office  as soon as possible.  This way you won't have to bring DD to the office, if this is upsetting to her.   In the meanwhile, the other posters gave good advice regarding the benefits of cranberry juice (make sure it is true 100% cranberry juice and not the cranberry juice cocktails) and lots of fluids in general.  Cotton underwear are best as they allow air circulation around the private area, and most importantly, make sure DD wipes herself from front to back - the urethral opening (where the urine comes out) is in the front, then the vaginal opening, then the anus (where the poops come out). Many females wipe from back to front, which brings bacteria from the anus to the vagina and urethra and commonly causes urinary tract infections.  The bladder (where the urine collects) is sterile, as is urine, so any introduction of bacteria into the urinary tract is abnormal and results in infection.  DD may just have a mild case of urethritis (irritation of the urethral opening) but it would be best to have the urine tested just to be sure.  I also wanted to say that I had a friend with a young daughter tell me that when her daughter gets them, they fill the bathtub with just enough warm water (not hot) for her to sit in.  Something about the water and maybe even the warmth helps to ease the pain when TT'ing. Of course, this means she is TT'ing in the water she is sitting in, but you can handle that in some other way.  Like letting the water out and running some clean water for her to wash off in or something.  I never did try that just because I didn't have the time to, but they swear it works.
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