A Urinary Tract Infection, or UTI, is an infection in the
urinary tract (the organs that hold urine).
What causes a UTI?
Different types of bacteria cause UTIs.
VUR can cause UTI. VUR (vesico-ureteral
reflux) is the backward flow of urine from the bladder into the
ureter.
Blockage of urine in the tract can cause a UTI.
Bubble baths and strong soaps can irritate the urethra
(opening where urine comes out) and lead to a UTI.
Who can get UTIs?
Girls are more likely than boys to get UTIs.
Boys and young children who get UTIs commonly have something
wrong with the urinary tract.
Young children who have unclean toilet habits are more likely
to get UTIs.
Boys who are not circumcised are at greater risk for getting
UTIs than circumcised boys.
Children who have problems emptying their bladders are more
likely to get UTIs.
What are the symptoms of a UTI? Symptoms of a UTI are different depending on your child's age and
where the infection is. Infections can either be in the lower tract
or the upper tract.
Bladder/Lower tract infection
A lower tract infection is also called a bladder
infection.
Young children and infants may seem fussy, vomit, and have
diarrhea.
Young children with a UTI may not eat well or gain expected
weight.
Children might have a burning feeling when they urinate or
urinate more often.
Children might feel like they have to urinate more often
but actually release very little urine.
Although uncommon, children might wet their pants.
The child may have low back pain, stomach pain below the
navel, or a long-lasting fever.
Urine might smell bad, be a cloudy or unusual color, or
have blood in it.
Kidney/Upper tract infection
An upper tract infection could also be a kidney
infection.
Many of the symptoms are the same as for a lower tract
infection.
Your child might have a fever and chills.
An upper UTI can cause pain on the side, below the
ribs.
Children who have an upper UTI may be tired, vomit, and
look very ill.
Are UTIs contagious?
No. UTIs are not contagious.
How are UTIs treated?
Children with UTIs are usually treated as outpatients.
In some cases, children may need to be hospitalized,
especially if they are under 6 months old.
The doctor will take a urine test (urinalysis, urine culture)
to see if there is an infection.
UTIs are treated with antibiotics.
Give your child ALL the antibiotics the doctor prescribed,
even if symptoms have improved.
Your child should drink plenty of fluids. Water is best
Make a follow-up appointment with the doctor to make sure the
infection is gone.
Your child might need to see a urologist. A urologist is a
doctor who specializes in urinary infections.
How long does a UTI last?
Symptoms should improve in 2 to 3 days following the first
dose of antibiotics.
Most UTIs get better in a week with the right treatment.
If UTIs aren't treated, they could lead to serious kidney
problems.
Can UTIs be prevented?
UTIs can be prevented by taking a few simple precautions.
School-age girls should avoid taking frequent bubble baths or
using strong soap.
Drinking lots of fluids can help prevent UTIs.
Avoid giving your child caffeine, like soda and tea. It could
irritate the bladder.
After going to the bathroom, girls should wipe from the front
of their body to the back. This keeps gut bacteria from
spreading.
Tell your child to go to the bathroom when she has to and not
to hold it too long.
Encourage your child to relax when she urinates so no urine is
left in the bladder.
When your child has bowel movements, it helps get rid of
bacteria that can cause UTIs. Give your child stool softeners if
needed.
If your child has VUR, ask the doctor how to avoid future
UTIs.
When should I call the doctor?
Call the doctor if you think your child might have a UTI.
Call the doctor if your child has a fever and chills, or pain
with urination.
Call the doctor if your child is dehydrated, vomiting, or
can't take fluids or medicine by mouth.
Call the doctor if your child has back pain.
Call the doctor if your child has bad smelling, bloody, or
strange colored urine.
Call the doctor if your child has little appetite or is
unusually fussy.
Quick Answers
A UTI is an infection in the urinary tract.
Different types of bacteria cause UTIs.
Girls are more likely than boys to get UTIs.
UTIs can cause pain with urination, the need to urinate more
often, fever, chills, vomiting, and pain in the back or side.
UTIs are not contagious.
UTIs are treated with antibiotics.
Most UTIs get better in a week with the right treatment.
One way UTIs can be prevented is by drinking plenty of
fluids.
Call the doctor if you think your child might have a UTI.
References
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, "Urinary Tract
Infections," 1995-2001. URL:
http://WWW.CHOP.EDU/cgi-bin/consumer/your_child/condition_section_index.jsp?id=-9183&printable=1
KidsHealth, "Urinary Tract Infections in Children," June 2001.
URL:
http://www.kidshealth.org/pagemanager.jsp?dn=KidsHealth&lic=1&ps=107&cat_id=article_set=22846
NIDDK, "Urinary Tract Infection in Children," July, 1997. URL:
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/urolog/pubs/utichild/utichild.htm
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