Urinary tract infections describe a health problem that results from a bacterial infection along the urinary tract.
UTI are uncommon in children younger than 3 to 5 years, but unlikely in boys at any age, unless an obstruction is present. They are much more common in girls as a result of a shorter urinary tract. Uncircumcised males are more likely to develop UTI than circumcised males. Children with a complete or partial blockage in the urinary tract are more likely to develop UTI.
Normal urine is sterile and contains fluids, salts, and waste products. It is free of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. An infection occurs when microorganisms, usually bacteria from the digestive tract, cling to the opening of the urethra, the hollow tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body, and begin to multiply.
Most infections arise from Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, which normally live in the colon.
The following are the most common symptoms of UTI. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:
In babies:
Older children:
The symptoms of UTI may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.
Your child's physician may diagnose a urinary tract infection based on physical examination and a description of symptoms. Other studies may include a urinalysis (a laboratory examination of urine for various cells and chemicals, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, infection, or excessive protein) and culture that will detect the presence of an infection.
A boy with a UTI or girls under age 5 or 6 may require further diagnostic testing with a renal ultrasound. This is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. Ultrasounds are used to view internal organs as they function, and to assess blood flow through various vessels.
A voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) may also be needed in some children to evaluate the bladder and urethra and to detect reflux (in which urine backs up to the kidneys instead of flowing out through the urethra).
Specific treatment for a urinary tract infection will be determined by your child's physician based on:
Treatment may include:
Your child's physician may ask you to bring your child back into the office a few days after treatment starts to reevaluate your child.
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Online Resources of Genitourinary & Kidney Disorders
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