Attending schools, kindergartens and nurseries has led to an increase in health problems among children in Albania. Urinary tract infections (UTI) are more frequent in this period, this is also because of the use of public toilets.

Diamant Shtiza, the head of the pediatric nephrology service at the QSUT hospital, in an interview for Euronews Albania, says that these infections are frequent and every day an average of 15 minor patients require medical help.

“The most expressed problem in our daily life is urinary tract infection, up to the age of 1 year. We have cases in 3 boys and 1 girl. The ratio changes after the age of 1 year with 10 girls and 1 boy due to nature and anatomy. We encounter them since the children of kindergartens and schools. The reasons are different. From the lack of personal hygiene, diarrhea, frequenting public toilets,” said Shtiza.

Doctors appeal that these infections should be treated in time and treated as otherwise they lead to kidney damage.

“If we don’t treat these infections, we end up with bladder damage and over time, our kidneys are also damaged,” said Shtiza.

In children under 1 year old, it is often difficult to catch these problems, but according to experts, studies have shown that in 10% of cases with fever, the cause is urinary tract infections.