My 20 months old toddler was down with high fever last week for 5 days. Thought that it was viral fever as doctor couldn’t find anything wrong with him. On looking back to the first day when he had fever, we realised that his urine had an odd smell. So we decided to send his urine for a urine FEME test. The result showed that there are white blood cells in his urine. This is a sign of urine infection but can only be confirmed by a urine culture. He recovered and has no more fever after 5 days. But today, four days after the fever subsided, it came back again. It was good that yesterday, we decided to send his urine for another urine FEME test and culture. Again the test confirmed that there are white blood cells in his urine and the culture shows positive for bacteria. Thus it is confirmed that he has urinary tract infection (UTI). The doctor put him on antibiotic to clear the infection.

The doctor told us that for a boy especially under two years old, there is a possibility that there are some problems with the child’s urinary tract. Problems that cause UTI may include blockages and a condition called vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). VUR is where urine from the bladder backs up into the kidneys. VUR is found in 30 to 40 percent of babies and young children who have UTIs.

The doctor recommended some tests to be done to rule out blockages and VUR.

1. Ultrasound which uses sound waves to show a picture of the kidneys and bladder.

2. A voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) which will show whether urine is backing up from the child’s bladder into the kidneys.During VCUG, X-rays are taken before and after a liquid dye is put into the bladder using a tube through the urethra.

The thought of VCUG and how they insert the tube worries me a lot. I can’t bear to see my little child goes through all these. The pain and the discomfort he has to go through. I will just pray that his infection is caused by bacteria from outside and not due to internal problem. Then he does not have to go through all these.

In an Australian study that looked into 2,100 children and their parents, it has been noticed that many parents have overlooked their children’s weight problems because they think that their kid’s weight is healthy.The researchers from The University of Melbourne have found that 43% of parents with underweight or overweight children believed their children had an average weight.

According to Dr Pene Schmidt, parents are more likely to take the necessary preventative actions if their perception of their child’s weight are correct.

But it is difficult to make the distinction nowadays. Fat or big is now common and seen as normal. So I guess it is easier to notice smaller built kids compare to big built kids.

My son age 20 months old but weighs only 8.5kg. We are concerned about his growth rate but it comforts us because he is eating well but just never put on weight. He has been on below 3rd percentile growth rate since when he was a few months old. His doctor said as long as his growth rate is constant even though it is below 3rd percentile, he is fine. Should there be a sudden drop from where he is now, then we should send him for a proper checkup. Hope he will put on more weight from now on.