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Childhood Illnesses
and Conditions
: Urinary Tract Infections in Children
Do children develop urinary infections?
Urinary tract infections (UTI's) do occur in children and even
babies. The cause of a urinary tract infection is a bacteria in
the urine and bladder. The bacteria can potentially infect the
kidney or even enter the blood. In babies, the immune system is
not as strong so the potential complications may be quite serious.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms, causes and possible complications depend on the
age of the child. Generally, the younger a child is, the less
specific the symptoms are. Symptoms of a UTI in older children
and adults include pain on urination, frequent urination and new
onset of bedwetting. Other less frequent symptoms include blood
in the urine, abdominal pain, and sometimes a low-grade fever.
Symptoms indicative of a kidney infection, known as pyelonephritis,
are back pain, high fever, chills and sometimes vomiting. In younger
children and babies the symptoms are even less specific and may
include only fever, increased irritability decreased feeding,
diarrhea and/or vomiting.
What tests can confirm a urinary infection?
The only way to determine whether or not a child has a UTI is
to do a urine test. Collecting urine from a baby is a challenge.
A commonly used technique is to attach a plastic bag around a
child's genitalia and wait until the child voids into the bag
so that the urine can be analyzed. Another way of obtaining urine
is by a catheter - a small tube inserted into the child's urethra.
Once collected, the urine is analyzed and examined microscopically
in order to confirm the presence of infection. The definitive
test however, to confirm a UTI is to send the urine for a culture.
This takes 24-48 hours and will confirm the presence of a bacterial
infection in the urine.
How are urinary infections treated?
The treatment of a UTI is antibiotics. Which one, how it is administered
and for how long, depend on the age and history of the child as
well as how sick a child with a suspected UTI looks. Certainly
in young or sick looking children, doctors will not wait for the
24 - 48 hours for the culture results before starting treatment.
If the initial analysis is abnormal and suggestive of a UTI, treatment
will be started before for the culture results come out.. In young
babies, children who are vomiting or children with a suspected
kidney infection the antibiotics are given intravenously in hospital.
Usually, older children, who are not sick looking and have no
evidence complications are treated with antibiotics given by mouth.
Are other test needed?
The other issue in children with a UTI is to make sure that there
are no underlying kidney or bladder abnormalities. It is for this
reason that most young children with a UTI, especially boys need
special tests to make sure that there are no kidney or bladder
problems. Typically a kidney ultrasound is performed which can
tell us about the kidney, bladder and urinary system in general.
Depending on the situation and age, another test is performed
called a Voiding Cysto-Urethrogram(VCUG). This test determines
whether the connection between the kidneys and the bladder, (the
ureters), work well or not. If there is an abnormality detected
this means that children will be prone to getting repeat infections.
The treatment of these anomalies such as abnormally shaped kidneys,
abnormal collecting system, and urinary flow known as vesicuiurethral
reflux, ranges from taking preventative antibiotics daily to an
operation to repair the abnormality which is considered congenital,
in other words, children are born with.
Other Childhood Illnesses
and Conditions |
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The information provided in this site is
designed to be an educational aid only. It is not intended to
replace the advice and care of your child's physician, nor is
it intended to be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. If
you suspect that your child has a medical condition, always
consult a physician.
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