Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms in Children

Urinary tract infection symptoms in children who are younger (such as infants) may include high fever, irritability, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and not thriving. Symptoms of urinary tract infection in older children may include painful urination, frequent urges to urinate, and pain in the abdomen and pelvic area. In the case of urinary tract infection, symptoms in children may not be obvious, especially if your child cannot tell you how he or she feels. Therefore, it is important that children receive careful evaluation if a urinary tract infection is suspected.

Pediatric Urinary Tract Infection

Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms in Children: An Overview

A urinary tract infection (UTI) causes irritation of the lining of the bladder, urethra, ureters, and kidneys.

Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms in Infants and Young Children

If your child is an infant or only a few years old, the signs of a urinary tract infection may not be clear, especially if your child cannot tell you exactly how he or she feels. Symptoms may include:

High fever
Irritability
Loss of appetite
Low-grade fever
Nausea
Vomiting
Not thriving.

If your child's urine smells unusual or if your child has a high temperature and appears sick for more than a day without signs of a runny nose or other obvious cause for discomfort, he or she may need to be checked for a bladder infection.

Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms in Older Children

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection in older children may include:

Pain in the abdomen and pelvic area
The need to urinate often
Pain under the side of the rib cage, called the flank, or low back pain
Crying or complaining that it hurts to urinate
Producing only a few drops of urine at a time
Difficulty controlling urine (urine may leak into clothing or bed sheets)
Urine that smells unusual or looks cloudy or red.

(Urinary Tract Infection Symptoms in Children Continued: Page 2)