Urinary tract infection - children Health Article

Definition

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract. This article discusses UTIs in children.

The urinary tract includes the:

• Bladder
• Kidneys
• Ureters -- the tubes that take urine from each kidney to the bladder
• Urethra -- the tube that empties urine from the bladder to the outside

See also:

• Catheter-associated UTI
• Kidney infection
• Urinary tract infection - adults

Alternative Names

UTI - children; Cystitis - children

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur in the lower urinary tract, which includes the bladder and urethra. In most cases, bacteria infects the area, and leads to inflammation.

In boys, UTIs are most common before the first birthday. In young girls, UTIs are most common around age 3, around the time they begin toilet training.

UTIs in children may be caused by problems in the urinary tract, including vesicoureteral reflux -- a problem with a valve in the bladder that allows urine to back up into the ureters and kidneys.

The following increase a child's chance of developing a UTI:

• Constipation
• Enlarged bladder
• Family history of vesicoureteral reflux or kidney disease
• Fever that keeps returning and has no clear cause
• Growth (mass) in the abdomen
• High blood pressure
• History of UTI
• Myelomeningocele or other defect of the spine
• Poor growth
• Poor urine flow
• Problems urinating (dysfunctional voiding)
• Structural problem in the urinary tract

Symptoms

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

Symptoms of a UTI in children include:

• Blood in the urine
• Chills with shaking
• Cloudy urine
• Fever
• Flushed, warm, or reddened skin
• Foul or strong urine odor
• Frequent or urgent need to urinate
• General ill feeling (malaise)
• Lethargy
• Nausea
• Pain in the side (flank) or back
• Pain or burning with urination
• Pressure in the lower pelvis
• Severe pain in the belly area
• Urinary incontinence after the child has been toilet trained
• Vomiting