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Symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection in Toddlers

Characterized by an irritated bladder, urethra and kidneys, urinary tract infections are painful and dangerous for adults. They can become even more severe in toddlers, especially since parents don't always recognize signs of infection, and young children find it difficult to articulate symptoms. If you believe your toddler is showing signs of a urinary tract infection, it's important to visit your health practitioner immediately. Serious urinary tract infections can lead to kidney infections, and they may even result in life-threatening kidney damage if left untreated.

  1. Frequency and Pain

    • One of the most common symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) is urinary frequency. If your potty-trained child seems to be spending a lot of time in the bathroom or he begins to regress in his toilet training, it may be due to infection. If your child is still in diapers, you may encounter more frequent diaper changes.

      A second common UTI indicator is pain or burning during urination. Your toddler may cry when going to the bathroom, refuse to urinate, produce only a few drops or complain of soreness around the genitals.

    Fever

    • Fever indicates that your toddler's body is fighting off an infection, and may be evidence of a UTI. When the infection is localized to the urethra and bladder, a toddler's fever should remain relatively low. If his temperature begins to creep past 102.5 degrees, the infection may be spreading to the kidneys. Manage the fever with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and consult your physician about.

    Activity Changes

    • Sometimes the biggest indicator of a UTI in toddlers is a change in activity level. Your normally hyper, fun-loving child may begin to nap frequently, complain of fatigue, look lethargic or seem unusually irritable. If your child is experiencing these symptoms without an obvious cause (runny nose, congestion, sore throat, etc.), he may need to be examined for a UTI.

    Gastrointestinal Symptoms

    • Bladder- and kidney-related infections often arrive with gastrointestinal symptoms. Frequent complaints of a stomach ache, abdominal pain or a lack of appetite could indicate a toddler UTI. In addition, your child may begin vomiting or having diarrhea during the course of the infection.

    Prevention

    • While some children are prone to frequent UTIs, there are ways to ward off infection. Make sure your toddler drinks plenty of water (1.5 ounces per pound of body weight), and eats a variety of healthy fruits and vegetables. This prevents constipation, which puts pressure on the bladder and can lead to infection.

      If your toddler is a girl, do not use harsh soaps or bubble bath to bathe her. This could cause urethra irritation, which may later lead to an infection. When cleaning up your toddler, make sure you wipe from front to back so you don't introduce harmful bacteria to the urethra.

      Finally, as you're potty training, it's important to remind your child to urinate frequently. UTI bacteria can build up if your child is not used to regularly emptying her bladder.

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