My "pee pee" hurts!

What do you do when this complaint comes out? I here it from all ages and both from boys and girls.

Pain in the genitalia comes from a large number of sources. The most common is the basic urinary tract infection. Both boys and girls can get these, though they are far more common in girls due to the proximity of urethra and rectum. Some experts maintain that wiping from front to back prevents contamination of the urethra, but I have my doubts. The ordinary urinary tract infection is caused by bacteria entering into the urethra and bladder and setting up camp there. Increasing fluids, altering the pH of the urine (drinking cranberry juice) and a simple antibiotic usually suffice.

Pyelonephritis is a basic urinary tract infection that has gone up past the bladder and entered the kidneys. Fever, back pain, vomiting, abdominal pain and pain when one urinates are the common symptoms. Depending on how ill the patient is, treatment can be as simple as an oral antibiotic as above, but if one becomes quite ill, IV fluids and IV antibiotics may be necessary.

Neither of these infections is considered "normal" the way ear infections and colds are. Especially in boys, there is sometimes an underlying reason the infection occured in the first place. The most common is urinary reflux. Instead of flowing out of the bladder when one urinates, some of the urine "refluxes" back up toward the kidney. This irritates the ureters, the tubes that go from kidney to bladder, and allows bacteria to persist. Also, abnormalities in the shape and structure of the kidneys can allow bacteria to cause trouble. Doctors often recommend studies to rule out these abnormalities when children develop urinary tract infections.

Other causes of dysuria, pain with urination, include yeast infections, skin infections and irritation of the urethra. Irritation often is caused by some chemical, hence the ubiquitous claim that bubble baths cause bladder infections. This is technically not true, but they CAN cause urethral irritation. Treatment for this is as simple as pushing fluids and avoiding the irritation. Physical manipulation (masturbation) can also cause urethritis in sensitive individuals. Obviously, trauma can also cause pain, and is sometimes the only indication that an individual is being abused.

So the causes of urethral pain are many and can be difficult to sort through. In anybody, if the pain seems to be persistant, give your doctor a call.