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Urinary tract infection is common in children. It is an infection of the bladder or fungal infection. Although a course of antibiotics can cure the infection, nowadays, more and more parents are opting for home remedies to treat UTI.
Home Remedies for Urine Infection in Kids
Here is a list of natural remedies to treat UTI in children:
1. Give Her Lots of Water
Make your child drink as much water as possible. Urinating often will help in flushing out the toxins quicker. However, don’t force her to drink water. If your baby is less than 6 months old, give her breast milk instead of water.
2. Make Her Drink Fruit Juices
In case your baby is more than six months of age,cranberry, blueberry and pineapple juice are the best options. The reason these fruits are recommended is because they limit the growth and multiplication of harmful bacteria in the urinary tract. Remember to consult a paediatrician before giving juices to your baby. Also, dilute it before giving as some fruit juices can increase the acidity of urine.
3. Feed Probiotics
Good bacteria are important and necessary to suppress any overgrowth of bad microorganisms. Probiotics help to treat and prevent UTI by restoring the body’s natural flora and improving bacterial resistance.
4. Give Lemon Juice
Lemon juice acts as a diuretic agent (a diuretic agent increases the passing of urine) and helps to flush out harmful bacteria and toxins from the body. It causes the pH level in the blood and urinary tract to change from acidic to alkaline which stops the growth of bacteria. Making your child drink lemon juice every day can prevent urinary tract infections in the future.
5. Avoid Acidic Food and Drinks
If your child has started semi-solids, solids and fluids other than breast milk, avoid giving acidic foods and drinks. The dish should be bland, and diluted juices, breast milk, vegetables and non-acidic fruits should be given.
6. Keep Your Baby’s Private Areas Clean
Change your baby’s soiled diaper at regular intervals. Before putting on a new diaper, clean her private areas with antimicrobial baby wipes first. Make sure you wash your hands before doing this.
7. Warm Bath
Give your baby a warm bath once a day with a hypoallergenic soap. The warm water will provide relief from pain and also clean the private parts of your baby, preventing further bacterial growth.
8. Use Cloth Diapers
Cloth diapers don’t absorb pee and poop and can be changed immediately. Therefore, cloth diapers can be used to discourage the overgrowth of bacteria.
9. Wipe From Front to Back (for girls)
If you have a daughter, wiping from the front to the back can prevent and treat UTI. There is also a good reason to back this up. Pee and poop have unhealthy bacteria which can cause infections if they come in contact with the urethra and the urinary tract. So, when you clean your child’s private areas, remember to wipe from the front to the back (and not vice-versa) and use a different toilet paper for the genitals and the anus.
10. Tell Her to Urinate Often
You can tell your toddler to urinate often. She may not comply because urination, is painful when one is suffering from UTI. However, positive encouragement can do wonders. You can tell her that the more she urinates, the sonner the pain will cease.
11. Include Vitamin C-rich Foods
Vitamin C acidifies the urine and keeps the bladder healthy. Therefore, giving Vitamin C-rich fruits or Vitamin C supplements, after consulting a doctor, is a good way to treat UTI in kids.
12. Add Garlic to Her Diet
According to a recent study, garlic extract is an effective weapon against pathogenic basteria associated with UTI. So, make sure you add garlic to your child’s diet.
13. Coconut Oil
Adding a spoonful of coconut oil to your child’s food is a good way to treat UTI as it makes urinating easier. You can also apply a drop of coconut oil in the urethra just a little before your child urinates.
14. Place a Warm Towel
Heat water in a vessel and wrap a hand towel around it. Then, place the warm towel on your baby’s lower abdomen. Repeat it multiple times throughout the day. This will relieve her of the pain. Remember to check the temperature of the towel before putting it on your baby’s abdomen.
15. Try Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is one of the best home remedies to treat UTI in kids. It is rich in potassium which prevents the E-coli bacterium from developing and multiplying in the urinary tract. The acetic acid present in apple cider vinegar has anti-bacterial components which kill the bad bacteria present in the urinary tract. ACV should be taken orally. If your child doesn’t like its taste, add a little honey and water and administer in the mornings for a week.
16. Cucumber
Cucumber is not just a great finger food but it’s also an easy way to combat UTI. It has alkaline forming minerals which inhibit bacteria in the urinary tract and is diuretic in nature too. Therefore, it helps to remove the bacteria through frequent urination. Cucumbers also have anti-inflammatory properties which help to relieve the inflammation and pain caused by UTI.
17. Pineapples
Pineapples contain an enzyme called bromelain that breaks down protein which causes inflammation. This when it combines with Trypsin, another enzyme, it becomes an effective way of treating UTI. Thus, giving your baby strips of pineapple as finger food is a good and easy way of treating the infection.
18. Cod Liver Oil
Good quality cod liver oil is a another remedy to treat UTI since it is rich in vitamin A and D. The Vitamin D present in the oil generates the antimicrobial peptides cathelicidin in the bladder which helps to prevent it and is especially helpful in cases of recurrent UTI.
19. Give Her Coconut Water to Drink
Drinking coconut water for a few days can help to get rid of a urinary tract infection. That’s because coconut water cools and soothes the inflammation caused by the unfriendly bacteria.
20. Make Her Wear Loose-fitting Clothes and Cotton Underwear
Making your child wear loose-fitting clothes and cotton underwear will allow the air to pass through and keep her private parts dry. As bacteria cannot breed in dry places, this will treat and prevent the chances of contracting UTI in the future.
When Should You Take Your Child to the Doctor?
When UTI remains untreated or has become worse, you may notice the following symptoms. They are a red flag and you should rush your kid to a doctor if she displays:
- Severe pain and a burning sensation while urinating
- A low-grade fever (below 101°F )
- Changes in the colour and smell of urine
- Urine that looks cloudy or has traces of blood
Urinary tract infection is not a major health concern for kids. However, if it persists for long, it can affect your child’s kidneys and lead to severe health issues. So, try out the above-mentioned home remedies to cure UTI in your kid, and if they don’t work, take a doctor’s opinion as soon as possible.
