While presenting a panel discussion to a group of parents about urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children, one of the parents asks the nurse, "Why would my daughter be more at risk than my son? Which response by the nurse would be most accurate?

Rationale: A. Girls have a smaller bladder size than boys do: Bladder size does not significantly differ between boys and girls in a way that increases UTI risk. The primary causes of higher UTI incidence in girls are anatomical and related to bacterial access to the urinary tract. B. Her kidneys are less well protected: Kidney protection is generally similar between boys and girls, and kidney anatomy does not explain the higher UTI rates in females. UTIs usually originate from ascending infections, not direct kidney vulnerability. C. A girl's urethra is longer than a boy's urethra: This is the opposite of the truth. Girls actually have a much shorter urethra, which makes it easier for bacteria to travel from the perineum to the bladder, increasing infection risk. D. A girl's urethra is closer to the rectal opening: This proximity makes it easier for bacteria, especially E. coli from the gastrointestinal tract, to reach the urethra. Combined with the short length of the female urethra, this anatomical factor is the main reason why girls experience UTIs more frequently than boys.