Urinary tract infection, children
Urinary tract infections (UTIs)in children are fairly common, but not usually serious. They can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
AUTI may be classed as either:
If you think your child is unwell and could have a UTI, contact your GP as soon as possible.
Although UTIs aren'tnormally a serious type of infection, they should bediagnosed and treatedquickly to reduce the risk of complications.
This topic covers:
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Prevention
Recurrent UTIs in children
It can be difficult to tell whetheryour child has a UTI,as the symptoms can be vague and young children can't easily communicate how they feel.
General signs that may suggest your child is unwell include:
More specific signs that your child may have a UTI include:
In most cases, your GPcan diagnose a UTI by asking aboutyour child'ssymptoms, examining them, and arranging for asample of theirpee to be tested.
Treatmentusually beginssoon after a urine sample has been taken, and your child won't need any further tests.
Ina fewcircumstances, further testsmay be needed in hospital to check for abnormalities.Your GP may refer you straight to hospital if your child is very young.
There are many ways this can happen, including:
There's often noobvious reason why some children develop UTIs and others don't.
However, some children may be more vulnerable to UTIs because of a problem with emptying theirbladder, such as:
Mostchildhood UTIs clear up within 24 to 48 hours of treatment with antibiotics and won't cause any long-term problems.
In many cases,treatment involves your child taking a course of antibiotic tablets at home.
As a precaution,babies underthree months old and children withmore severe symptoms are usually admitted to hospital for a few days to receive antibiotics directly into a vein (intravenous antibiotics).
However, recent high-quality research into these claims found little evidence to suggest cranberries have a significant impact on your chances of developing a UTI.
A small number of children have recurring UTIs. If your child's had a UTI before, it's important that both of you watchfor the return of any associated symptoms.
Tell your GP about any symptomsas soon as possible so a diagnosis can be confirmed and treatment can begin.
Ifyour childhas a problem that increases their risk of UTIs, such as faulty valves that allow urine to flow the wrong way,they may be prescribed low-dose antibiotics as a long-term measure to prevent further infections.
Read about urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children, which are fairly common, but not usually serious. They can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
Read about diagnosing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children, including taking a urine sample and further tests in hospital.
Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children can be effectively treated with antibiotic medication.