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.
• Main cause in young girls: an irritation and redness of the vulva (vulvitis) and opening of the urethra (urethritis) from bubble bath or shampoo or other soap.

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.
• High fever above 104°F (40°C) or chills.
• Abdominal, side or back pain and also has fever.

Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9 and 4) If

• Painful urination, but none of the symptoms described above (probably soap vulvitis in girls).

Home Care Advice for Soap Vulvitis (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.
   
   
2. To be sure she doesn't have a UTI, she needs to have her urine checked.  The following treatment will reduce symptoms while awaiting your appointment.
   
   
3. 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).
   
   
4. Increased Fluids:  Give extra fluids to drink (reason: to produce a dilute, nonirritating urine).
   
   
5. 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.
   
   
6. Contagiousness:  Even if your child has a urinary tract infection, it is not contagious.
   
   
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   
   Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor" symptoms.

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright © 2000. Barton D. Schmitt, MD, FAAP