Urination, Pain With

URINATION, PAIN WITH

Symptom Definition

  • Discomfort (pain, burning or stinging) when passing urine.
  • In children too young to talk, suspect pain if your child begins to cry regularly while passing urine.
  • Urgency (can't wait) and frequency (passing small amounts) of urination may be associated.

Cause

  • Main cause in young girls: an irritation and redness of the vulva and opening of the urethra from bubble bath, shampoo or soapy bath water.

    • Return to School

    • Even if your child has a bladder infection, it is not contagious. Your child does not need to miss any school or daycare.
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WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR

Call 911 now (your child may need an ambulance) if:

  • Not moving or too weak to stand

Call your doctor now (night or day) if:

  • Your child looks or acts very sick
  • Can't pass urine or only can pass few drops
  • Blood in urine
  • Severe pain with urination
  • Fever is present
  • Abdominal, side or back pain

Call your doctor within 24 hours (between 9am and 4pm) if:

  • Painful urination, but none of the symptoms described above (probably soap vulvitis in girls).
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HOME CARE ADVICE (pending talking with your doctor)

  1. Definition:  Soap Vulvitis is the #1 cause of pain with urination in young girls
    • Burning or stinging with passing urine.
    • Vaginal itching or irritation may also be present.
    • Prepubertal girl less than 10 years old.
    • Uses bubble bath, bathes in soapy water or washes genitals with soap. To be sure she doesn't have a bladder or kidney infection, she needs to have her urine checked.  The following treatment will reduce symptoms while awaiting your appointment.
  2. Baking Soda-Warm Water Soaks:  Soak the genital area for 20 minutes every 4 hours to remove irritants and to decrease painful urination.  Add 2 oz. baking soda per tub of warm water (reason: baking soda is better than vinegar for the prepubertal age group).
  3. Increased Fluids:  Give extra fluids to drink (reason: to produce a dilute, nonirritating urine).
  4. Avoid Soaps:  Avoid bubble bath, soap and shampoo to the vulva because they are irritants.  Only use warm water to cleanse the vulva or baby oil to remove secretions.
  5. Contagiousness:  Even if your child has a bladder infection, it is not contagious.
  6. Call Your Doctor If:
    • Your child becomes worse

And remember, contact your doctor if your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

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REFERENCES

  1. AAP Committee on Quality Improvement: Subcommittee on Urinary Tract Infection. Practice parameter: The diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of the initial urinary tract infection in febrile infants and young children. Pediatrics. 1999;103:843-852.
  2. Farhat W and McLorie G. Urethral syndromes in children. Pediatr Rev. 2001;22:17-20.
  3. Roberts KB and Akintemi OB. The epidemiology and clinical presentation of urinary tract infections in children younger than 2 years of age. Pediatr Ann. 1999;28:644-649.
  4. Steele RW. The epidemiology and clinical presentation of urinary tract infections in children 2 years through adolescence. Pediatr Ann. 1999;28:653-658.

Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.

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