Unfortunately I write this with first-hand knowledge. Recently, my 3-month-old daughter was hospitalized with a severe kidney infection. I and my husband spent three long and scary days at the hospital trying to get Samarrah feeling better.
It started out with Sam just feeling a little warmer than usual. She acted fine. She was still laughing and crying.
About ten hours later she was a bright, fire red color. I took her temperature and it was 103.7. This alone was scary enough. To top it off every time I picked her up or moved her she would scream like she was in severe pain.
When we got her to the emergency room at our local hospital she was inconsolable. The nurse took her temperature and it had risen to 104.8. The doctor then immediately ordered a number of tests.
She then had her blood drawn. Samarrah had to have a straight catheter inserted to collect a urine sample. They collected her sputum to test for RSV. They did a throat culture to see if she possibly had strep throat.
Sam’s blood test came back. It showed she had a highly elevated white blood cell count. Which meant her body was fighting hard to stop an infection somewhere. The problem was they didn’t know exactly where yet.
The sputum test came back negative for RSV. The throat culture was negative for infection. Then the urine test came back.
The urine test was positive. Sam had a urinary tract infection. The doctor also stated she could possibly have a kidney infection or in medical terms, pyelonephritis. She was admitted to the hospital so she could receive intravenous antibiotics.
The first night was hard. But the next morning was even worse. Our family doctor came in and told us she wanted to send Samarrah to a hospital that had a pediatric intensive care unit in case things went from bad to worse.
An infection like this in an infant can quickly spread. It can lead to sepsis. It can cause meningitis. Then it could cause massive organ failure. Sam was transported by ambulance. She was taken two hours away to the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital at the Geisinger Medical Complex in Danville, Pennsylvania.
My heart sank into my stomach when I watched them take away my tiny daughter in an ambulance. I was filled with fear and pain not knowing what was going to happen next.
The Janet Weis Children’s Hospital is an amazing place. They have a very thorough and sympathetic staff. The nurses and doctors fulfill the needs of the parents and their small patients.
The next two days the doctors made sure all of Samarrah’s needs were met. She received intravenous antibiotics that were successful. Sam had an ultrasound of her kidneys to see if she had a urinary reflux that led to her kidneys. While all of this was going on, the staff made sure she was comfortable and happy.
Finally after four days of worry Sam’s smile came back. She was laughing again. Sam engaged everyone she came in contact with all of her little baby charm. She was ready to go home.
The pediatricians want her to come back in a month for a voiding cystourethrogram or VCUG. This is a test where they will fill the bladder with a special dye and wait for her to urinate and take live x-ray pictures. This is to see if urine is flowing back up to the kidneys. If it does she has to be on antibiotics until it corrects itself. If it is really severe we will have to speak to a urologist about a possible surgery to reset her ureters.
Urinary tract infections and kidney infections are more common in females. This is because of the simple fact the bacteria has a shorter distance to travel in the female anatomy.
The best advice is to take the utmost care with personal hygiene. Avoid soaps with harsh ingredients and fragrances. When infants and toddlers are involved do not allow them to sit in a wet diaper for too long. Do not use wet wipes that contain fragrances. Make sure you always clean your baby from front to back. Following a few basic rules can save a lot of heartache and pain.
