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Pain with Urination

Description / Symptoms

  • 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

In young girls, it is usually due to an irritation and redness of the vulva and opening of the urethra from bubble bath, shampoo, or soapy bath water.

When to Call Your Doctor for Pain with Urination

Call 911 Now If:

  • Not moving or too weak to stand

Call Your Doctor Now 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 If:

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

Call Your Doctor During Weekday Hours If:

  • See other columns for appropriate advice

Home Care (Read "Call Your Doctor…" first):

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 < 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:

  • 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)
  • Increased Fluids: Give extra fluids to drink. (Reason: to produce a dilute, nonirritating urine)
  • 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

Contagiousness

Even if your child has a bladder infection, it is not contagious.

Call Your Doctor If:

  • Your child becomes worse or develops any of the "Call Your Doctor…" symptoms

Parent Care for Pediatric Symptoms. Copyright 2000-2006.