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Urinary tract infection - children - Symptom

Alternative Names

UTI - children; Cystitis - children

Symptoms:

Young children with UTIs may only have a fever, or no symptoms at all.

Symptoms of a UTI in children include:

Signs and tests:

A urine sample is needed to diagnose a UTI in children. The sample is examined under a microscope and sent to a lab for a urine culture.

In children who are not toilet trained, getting a urine sample can be difficult. The test cannot be done using a wet diaper. Possible ways to collect a urine sample in very young children include:

  • Urine collection bag -- A special plastic bag is placed over the child's penis or vagina to catch the urine; this is not the best method because the sample may become contaminated.
  • Catheterized specimen urine culture -- A plastic tube (catheter) placed into the tip of the penis or into the vagina collects urine directly from the bladder.
  • Suprapubic urine collection -- A needle is placed through the skin of the lower abdomen and muscles, into the bladder, and used to collect urine.

If this is your child's first UTI, special imaging tests may be done to determine why the infection occured. Tests may include:

These studies may be done while the child has an infection, or weeks to several months afterward.

Your doctor will consider many things when deciding if and when a special study is needed, including:

  • Is the child younger than 6 months?
  • Has the child had infections in the past?
  • Is the infection severe?
  • Does the child have other medical illnesses?
  • Does the child have a problem with the spinal cord or defects of the urinary tract?
  • Has the child responded quickly to antibiotics?
  • Reviewed last on: 9/18/2008
  • Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Roussey-Kesler G, Gadjos V, Idres N, Horen B, Ichay L, Leclair MD, et al. Antibiotic prophylaxis for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infection in children with low grade vesicoureteral reflux: results from a prospective randomized study. J Urol. 2008;179:674-679; discussion 679. Epub 2007, Dec 20.

Shaikh N, Morone NE, Lopez J, Chianese J, Sangvai S, D'Amico F, Hoberman A, Wald ER. Does this child have a urinary tract infection? JAMA. 2007; 298:2895-2904.

Mori R. Kakhanpaul M, Verrier-Jones K. Diagnosis and management of urinary tract infection in children: summary of NICE guidelines. BMJ. 2007; 335:395-397.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
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