Urinary tract infections in children
What are the symptoms of a urinary tract infection?
You might not be able to tell if your child has a urinary tract infection, especially if your child is young and cannot describe how they feel. But if your child has a fever or is unwell for no clear reason, a urinary tract infection could be the cause.
Your child might have a urinary tract infection if they are:
1
Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
Urinary tract infections in children.
December 2005. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utichildren/ (accessed on 27 August 2009).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
Urinary tract infections in children.
December 2005. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utichildren/ (accessed on 27 August 2009).
- Feeling sick for more than a day without having a runny nose or other obvious signs of an illness
- Having a fever
- Feeling irritable or not eating
- Feeling sick to their stomach, vomiting or having
diarrhea
Diarrhea is when you have loose, watery stools and you need to go to the bathroom far more often than usual. Doctors say you have diarrhea if you need to go to the bathroom more than three times a day.diarrhea - Having urine that smells unusual or looks cloudy
- Urinating often.
- Cry or say it hurts to urinate
- Produce a few drops of urine at a time
- Not be able to control their urine, which can leak onto clothing or bedding.
Older children might also complain of pain in their abdomen.
2
Source:
Bloomfield P, Hodson EM, Craig JC.
Antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis in children (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Bloomfield P, Hodson EM, Craig JC.
Antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis in children (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
If your child is seriously ill, they could have a
kidney infection, known as pyelonephritis.
2 Their symptoms would include high fever, vomiting, and pain and tenderness in their abdomen. This is the most severe type
of urinary tract infection and might need treatment in the hospital right away.
kidney
Your kidneys are organs that filter your blood to make urine. You have two of them, on either side of your abdominal cavity, toward your back.
Your kidneys are organs that filter your blood to make urine. You have two of them, on either side of your abdominal cavity, toward your back.
Source:
Bloomfield P, Hodson EM, Craig JC.
Antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis in children (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Bloomfield P, Hodson EM, Craig JC.
Antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis in children (Cochrane review).
In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
You can find out for certain whether your child has a urinary tract infection only by seeing your doctor.
1 If your doctor thinks your child might have a urinary tract infection, they will probably test a sample of your child's urine
for
bacteria.
Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
Urinary tract infections in children.
December 2005. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utichildren/ (accessed on 27 August 2009).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.
Urinary tract infections in children.
December 2005. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utichildren/ (accessed on 27 August 2009).
bacteria
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.
How your doctor will collect a sample of urine depends on how old your child is. Older children can easily urinate into a
container. But if your child isn't toilet-trained, a nurse can attach a plastic collection bag over their genital area using
adhesive tape. You can then put on their diaper as normal. Occasionally, the doctor or nurse will put a small tube into your
child's
urethra and collect urine directly from their
bladder.
urethra
Your urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder out of your body. In a man, the urethra runs through the inside of the penis. In a woman, the urethra is shorter, and opens onto the top of the vagina.
Your urethra is the tube that carries urine from your bladder out of your body. In a man, the urethra runs through the inside of the penis. In a woman, the urethra is shorter, and opens onto the top of the vagina.
bladder
Your bladder is the hollow organ at the top of your pelvis that stores urine. It is similar to a balloon, only with stronger walls. It fills up with urine until you go to the bathroom.
Your bladder is the hollow organ at the top of your pelvis that stores urine. It is similar to a balloon, only with stronger walls. It fills up with urine until you go to the bathroom.
If your child has had a kidney infection, your doctor might order tests using
ultrasound scans and
X-rays to check for an abnormality in the urinary tract. This causes urine to flow back toward their kidneys (a problem called reflux).
ultrasound
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.
X-ray
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.
Sources for the information on this page:
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.Urinary tract infections in children.December 2005. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utichildren/ (accessed on 27 August 2009).
- Bloomfield P, Hodson EM, Craig JC.Antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis in children (Cochrane review).In: The Cochrane Library. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
This information was last updated on Oct 13, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional.
The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.
Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.
Source: ConsumerReportsHealth.org Copyright © 2005-2010 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc.
Find a condition
Search
Condition name not found!
