A urinary tract infection, or UTI, is an infection that can occur anywhere between the kidneys and the urethra (where the urine comes out). Most UTIs are in the bladder. They often cause pain when the child urinates.
UTIs must be treated right away in infants and children. An infection that is not treated quickly can lead to kidney infection. Children who take medicine to treat the infection most often heal completely.
A UTI is an infection of the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. (These are the organs that make up the urinary tract.) UTIs in children most often occur if bacteria begin to grow in these parts of the body.
Symptoms of a UTI can be hard to notice in a baby or young child. A baby's symptoms may include an unexplained fever, lack of appetite, vomiting, and urine that has an unusual smell. A young child's symptoms may include pain or burning when the child urinates, urinating often, loss of bladder control, urine that smells bad or is an odd color, and a fever.
Diagnosis of a UTI in a child most often requires a medical history and physical exam, urinalysis, and urine culture. Sometimes a child's symptoms and urinalysis results strongly suggest that he or she has a UTI. In this case, many doctors will prescribe antibiotics for a UTI without waiting for the results of a urine culture.
Treatment for most children who have a UTI is oral antibiotics and home care.
In a UTI, bacteria usually enter the urinary tract through the urethra. They may then travel up the urinary tract and infect the bladder and the kidneys. Most UTIs in children clear up quickly with antibiotic treatment.
Infants and young children often get another UTI after their first UTI. If an infection comes back (recurs), it usually happens within the same year as the first UTI.
Recurrent UTIs in a child can mean that there is a problem with the structure or function of the urinary tract. Your child's doctor will treat any problems like this because repeated infections raise the risk of lasting kidney damage. In some cases, children may need surgery.
UTIs can lead to a serious infection throughout the body called sepsis. Problems from a UTI are more likely to happen in babies who are born too soon, in newborns, and in babies who have something blocking the flow of urine.
Symptoms of a UTI in an infant or young child may include a fever. This may be the only symptom in infants. Other symptoms include being fussy or not being hungry. Older children are more likely to have symptoms, such as pain, the need to urinate often, or burning when urinating.
Treatment for most children with a UTI is oral antibiotics and home care. Home care includes helping your child drink extra fluids as soon as you notice symptoms. And it includes urging your child to urinate often.
Infants and young children with a UTI need early treatment. This is to prevent kidney damage or widespread infection (sepsis). Your doctor is likely to start treating your child based on the symptoms and urine test.
Sometimes the doctor may give your child a shot of antibiotics. This can happen if your child is younger than 3 months, is too nauseated or sick to take oral medicines, or has an impaired immune system. Or your child may need antibiotics given through a vein (I.V.). This is given in a hospital. After your child's fever and other symptoms improve and your child is feeling better, the doctor may give your child oral antibiotics.
To diagnose a UTI, your doctor will ask for a sample of your child's urine. It's tested to see if it has germs that cause bladder infections. Your doctor will also ask about your child's health and do a physical exam.
If your doctor thinks your child has a UTI, the doctor may have your child start taking antibiotics right away before getting the results of the test.
Your doctor may do other tests if your child has a UTI and:
Antibiotic medicine that your child takes by mouth (an oral medicine) usually works well to treat UTIs. In many cases, if the symptoms and a urine test suggest a UTI, the doctor will start the medicine without waiting for the results of a urine culture.
The doctor may give antibiotics as a shot or through a vein (I.V.) if your child is:
The doctor may start oral medicine treatment after your child is stable and feels better.
The doctor may consider antibiotics to prevent another infection if tests show a problem in the urinary tract that raises the child's risk for recurrent UTIs.
Treatment to prevent UTIs may last 3 months or longer. Some doctors are more careful about giving antibiotics for long-term use. This is because of concerns about the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Risk factors that increase your child's risk of getting a UTI include:
Most UTIs in children are caused by germs (bacteria) that enter the urethra. The germs then travel up the urinary tract and cause infection. Germs that normally are in stool are the most common cause. Being constipated or not emptying the bladder all the way can lead to a buildup of bacteria.
A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a problem that happens when germs (called bacteria) get into the urinary tract and cause an infection. The urinary tract is the system that makes urine and carries it out of your child's body. Most UTIs are bladder infections. But the kidneys may also be infected.
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your child's health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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