Itching with Urine Infection in a Child

[UmmHasan]

Hi, my 7 (8 in 3 days) daughter has been having vaginal itching for the past year.  In the past 4 months the itching has intensified and 1st a uti test was negative so I explored more areas such as treating pin worm, yeast infection, using hdryocortisone ointment/cream, itch creams, etc.  Nothing worked and my daughter was in so much greif from it that I sought out a pediatric gynocologist who said she had yeast and asked me to try treating it again with no relief so I returned to the pediatritian who did a complete vaginal exam with no finding but upon repeat UTI testing it was positive and once treated the itching went away.  1 mo later itching returned, 1st UTI test was negative, a few weeks later another UTI test is positive and she's back on antibiotics and again the intense itching has subsided.  Is there any specific conditions my daughter may have that keep making her intensly itch with burning urination upon a UTI?  Thanks  (this itching is so intense my daughter said she wishes she could kill herself due the non relief of itching).

[Lennox Hoyte, M.D.]

Your daughter is having recurrent UTI. In an 8 year old, this may be from a urinary system structural anomaly, like duplicated ureters. Take her to a Urologist, who can schedule an IVP (intravenous pyelogram), which is an xray to show the anatomy of the kidneys and urinary system. Other possibilities include a congenital bladder or urethral anomaly. None of these are life threatening.

A Urologist is your best bet to get this sorted out.

[ozark]

your child should see a urologist to rule out any anatomical problem causing her repeated UTI's.
Another thought is if she's wiping herself correctly to prevent contamination. Antibiotics can also cause vaginal yeast infections, but it sounds as if the itching started before the urine infection.
I hope she does well

[ozark]

Maybe she could try a little bacitracin on the vaginal area twice a day after cleaning herself and see if that helps

[UmmHasan]

Hi and thanks for your reply.  When she was 4 she had a UTI so the sent her for an ultrasound with contrast and everything was normal and she did not get any more infections until this itching episode started which ultimatly seems to be comming from the UTI's since every time shes on antibiotics (she is on her 4th round now and goes back tomorrow for another recheck) the itching stops.

1st, is it possibile that there is now an abnormality that was not present at the age of 4?  Also, can the intense itching be from the UTI as it seems?  Further, I did now scheduale an appointment with the Uroligist but the 1st apt is not until July18th it is now May 1st.  

In the meantime, do you have any further input on the issue?

Thanks a lot, I appreciate your time.


Now to Ozark who replied to my post, thanks, we did try neosporin (an antibacterial ointment) on the area for 2 wks with no resolve b4 they finally did a UTI test after I went to the gyn and back to the pediatritian with no resolve.  As for wiping, she rinses with water every time she uses the bathroom by squirting water from an old dish detergent bottle then she wipes correctly from front to back.  In addition, it did seem as though the itching started b4 the UTI but now this is the 4th time that when she complains of itching a UTI has been present - shortly after she stops the antibiotic the itching comes back so i go back to the pediatritian who repeats the uti test and finds a positive result (sometimes after a negative a week later) the peditritian suggessted that I bring her monthly for a uti test now.

Thanks