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Child Urinary Infection

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common among children. Recognizing the symptoms of a UTI in your child can help you get him the treatment he needs quickly.

  1. Types

    • There are three types of urinary tract infections in children. Infection in the bladder, which is the most common, is called cystitis; infection in the renal pelvis and kidney is pyelonephritis; and urethritis is infection in the urethra.

    Symptoms in Infant

    • UTIs are less common among infants. Your infant may not show any symptoms other than a fever.

    Symptoms in a Toddler

    • A toddler is more likely to have bed wetting and accidents during the day if she has a UTI. She may have trouble with dribbling urine throughout the day, and may complain of burning or pain when she urinates.

    Symptoms in Older Children

    • In addition to the previously mentioned symptoms, a child may also have blood in his urine or urinate more frequently. If the infection is in his kidneys, he's more likely to have a higher fever and more generalized abdominal pain.

    Causes

    • UTIs are most often caused by bacteria traveling through the urethra, thought it is also possible that bacteria traveled to the kidneys through the bloodstream. Young girls 3 to 5 years are most likely to suffer from UTIs because the female urethra is short.

    Treatment

    • If you child is complaining of UTI symptoms, take her to the doctor. The doctor will test for the presence of infection and prescribe an antibiotic; be sure she takes the full course of antibiotics.

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