Urinary tract infections in children
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children are fairly common, but not usually serious. They can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
A UTI may be classed as either:
• an upper UTI – if it's a kidney infection or an infection of the ureters, the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder
• a lower UTI – if it's a bladder infection (cystitis) or an infection of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body
When to seek medical advice
If you think your child is unwell and could have a UTI, contact your GP as soon as possible.
Although UTIs aren't normally a serious type of infection, they should be diagnosed and treated quickly to reduce the risk of complications.
Symptoms …show more content…
In a few circumstances, further tests may be needed in hospital to check for abnormalities. Your GP may refer you straight to hospital if your child is very young.
Causes of UTIs in children
Most UTIs in children are caused by bacteria from the digestive system entering the urethra.
There are many ways this can happen, including:
• when a child wipes their bottom and soiled toilet paper comes into contact with their genitals – this is more of a problem for girls than boys because girls' bottoms are much nearer the urethra
• babies getting small particles of poo in their urethra when they soil their nappies – particularly if they squirm a lot when being changed
There's often no obvious 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 their bladder, such as:
• constipation – this can sometimes cause part of the large intestine to swell, which can put pressure on the bladder and prevent it emptying normally
• dysfunctional elimination syndrome – a relatively common childhood condition where a child "holds on" to their pee, even though they have the urge to
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children are fairly common, but not usually serious. They can be effectively treated with antibiotics.
A UTI may be classed as either:
• an upper UTI – if it's a kidney infection or an infection of the ureters, the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder
• a lower UTI – if it's a bladder infection (cystitis) or an infection of the urethra, the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body
When to seek medical advice
If you think your child is unwell and could have a UTI, contact your GP as soon as possible.
Although UTIs aren't normally a serious type of infection, they should be diagnosed and treated quickly to reduce the risk of complications.
Symptoms …show more content…
In a few circumstances, further tests may be needed in hospital to check for abnormalities. Your GP may refer you straight to hospital if your child is very young.
Causes of UTIs in children
Most UTIs in children are caused by bacteria from the digestive system entering the urethra.
There are many ways this can happen, including:
• when a child wipes their bottom and soiled toilet paper comes into contact with their genitals – this is more of a problem for girls than boys because girls' bottoms are much nearer the urethra
• babies getting small particles of poo in their urethra when they soil their nappies – particularly if they squirm a lot when being changed
There's often no obvious 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 their bladder, such as:
• constipation – this can sometimes cause part of the large intestine to swell, which can put pressure on the bladder and prevent it emptying normally
• dysfunctional elimination syndrome – a relatively common childhood condition where a child "holds on" to their pee, even though they have the urge to