A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the
bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra, the organs that make up the urinary
tract. UTIs in children usually occur if bacteria begin to grow in these parts
of the body.
Symptoms of a UTI can be hard to recognize in a baby or young
child. In a baby, symptoms include unexplained fever, lack of appetite,
vomiting, and urine that has an unusual smell. In a young child, symptoms
include pain or burning during urination, frequent urination, loss of bladder
control, discolored or foul-smelling urine, and fever.
Diagnosis of a UTI in a child typically requires a medical history
and physical exam, urinalysis, and urine culture. However, many doctors will
prescribe antibiotics for a UTI without waiting for the results of a urine
culture if a child's symptoms and urinalysis results strongly suggest that he
or she has a UTI.
Treatment for most children with UTIs is oral antibiotics and home
care. Antibiotic treatment typically lasts 7 to 14 days. However, the length of
treatment may depend on where the infection is located, how severe it is, and
the child's age and medical history.
Home care includes encouraging the child to drink extra fluids to
flush bacteria out of the bladder and reminding the child to urinate often and
to empty the bladder each time.
