Female Urinary Tract Infection (Child)
Your child has a urinary tract infection.
Bacteria most often don't stay in pee (urine). When they do, the pee can become infected. This is called a urinary tract infection (UTI). An infection can happen at any place in the urinary tract, from the kidney to the bladder and urethra. The female urethra is the tube that drains the pee from the bladder through an opening in front of the vagina. Normally, the one-way flow of urine from the kidneys to the urethra prevents the bacteria from infecting the urinary tract.
Bladder infection, UTI, and cystitis are often used to describe the same health problem. But they're not always the same. Cystitis is an inflammation of the bladder. The most common cause of cystitis is an infection.
The most common place for a UTI is in the bladder. When this happens, it's called a bladder infection. This is a common infection in children. Most bladder infections can be treated and aren't serious. But a UTI can also harm the kidneys. The symptoms of a kidney infection are worse. This infection is more serious because it can harm the kidneys.
Key points to know
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Infections in the pee or any place in the urinary tract are called UTIs.
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Cystitis is most often caused by a UTI.
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Bladder infections are the most common type of cystitis.
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Not all UTIs and cases of cystitis are bladder infections.
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A UTI can cause a kidney infection. This is less common than a bladder infection.
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Most people with a bladder infection don't have a kidney infection.
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You can have a kidney infection without a bladder infection.
The symptoms often depend on your child's age. With a younger child, the symptoms are less clear. Your child may have a hard time telling or showing you where it hurts.
The infection causes inflammation in the urethra and bladder. This causes many of the symptoms. The most common symptoms of a female UTI are:
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Pain or burning feeling when peeing. Your child may cry when peeing or not want to pee because of the pain.
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Doing a curtsy to try to hold in the pee.
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Having to go to the bathroom more often than normal.
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Feeling the need to go right away.
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Having only a small amount of pee come out.
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Blood in the pee.
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Belly (abdominal) pain.
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Cloudy, dark, strong, or bad-smelling pee.
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Not being able to pee (urinary retention).
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Bed-wetting (urinary incontinence) by a toilet-trained child.
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A fever.
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Chills.
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Back pain or pain in the side (flank).
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Feeling grouchy.
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Loss of appetite.
UTIs can't be passed from person to person. You can't get one from some other person, from a toilet seat, or by sharing a bath.
The most common cause of bladder infections in children is bacteria from the skin around the rectum or genitals, or bacteria that gets transported by the bloodstream from other infected organs. The bacteria can get onto the skin around the urethra, and then into the pee. From there, they can travel up into the bladder. This causes inflammation and an infection. This most often happens because of:
Other causes include:
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Not fully emptying the bladder. Bacteria don't pass out as often, so they are able to multiply.
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Constipation. Hard stools can press against the urinary tract and block the flow of urine. This allows bacteria to grow.
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Dehydration. This lets the urine stay in the bladder longer.
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Irritation of the urethra from soaps, bubble baths, or tight clothes. This makes it easier for bacteria to cause an infection.
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Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). This is the backward flow of some urine from the bladder toward the kidneys during urination.
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Urinary blockage. This happens when something obstructs the normal flow of urine, such as a kidney stone or a narrow ureter.
UTIs are diagnosed by the symptoms and a urine test. The doctor will do tests, such as:
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A urine culture to find what type of bacteria is causing your child’s infection.
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A renal/bladder ultrasound to find the cause of your child’s infection or to check for kidney damage.
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In rare cases, a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG). This test may be done to diagnose vesicoureteral reflex.
UTIs are treated with antibiotics and most often go away quickly without problems. Treatment helps stop the UTI from becoming a more serious kidney infection.
Home care
Your child’s doctor prescribed antibiotics for the infection. Have your child take the antibiotics until they are all gone, unless the doctor tells you to stop. Your child should take the medicine even if your child feels better. This is to make sure the infection has cleared up.
Ask the doctor if you can give acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain, fever, or fussiness. Don't give ibuprofen to children younger than 6 months old. If your child has long-term (chronic) liver or kidney disease, talk with your child’s doctor before using these medicines. Also talk with the doctor if your child has had a stomach ulcer or digestive tract bleeding or is taking blood thinners.
Don't give aspirin to children or teens unless your child’s doctor says it is safe. Aspirin can put your child at risk for Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition.
Always check with your doctor about how much liquid your child should drink. The amount will depend on your child’s size, age, and activity level, and on the weather.
A heating pad on your child’s back or belly (abdomen) may help ease pain from a kidney or bladder infection.
Preventing UTIs
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Teach your child to wipe from front to back after using the toilet.
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Give your child enough liquids to drink to prevent dehydration and flush out the bladder.
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Have your child wear loose-fitting clothes and cotton underwear. This helps keep the genital area clean and dry.
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Change dirty diapers or underwear as soon as you can. This will help prevent irritation, which can lead to infection. Always clean the genital area with unscented, non-alcohol-based gentle cleansers that don't irritate the skin.
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Encourage your child to pee more often. Tell your child not to wait a long time before peeing.
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Give your child healthy foods to prevent constipation. This includes more fresh fruits and vegetables, more fiber, and less junk food and fatty foods.
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Avoid giving your child frequent bubble baths. They may irritate the skin around the urethral opening.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your child’s doctor, or as advised. This is especially important if your child has infections that happen over and over again.
If a culture was done, you'll be told if the treatment needs to be changed. You can call as directed for the results.
Call 911
Call 911 if your child has:
When to get medical advice
Contact your child’s doctor right away if your child:
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Doesn't start to get better after 24 hours of treatment.
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Still has some symptoms after 3 days of treatment.
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Has a fever. (See "Fever and children" below.)
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Has an upset stomach (nausea)or vomiting, or can't keep down medicines.
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Has belly or back pain.
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Has vaginal discharge.
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Has pain, swelling, or redness in the outer vaginal area (labia).
Fever and children
Use a digital thermometer to check your child’s temperature. Don’t use a mercury thermometer. There are different kinds and uses of digital thermometers. They include:
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Rectal. For children younger than 3 years old, a rectal temperature is the most accurate.
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Forehead (temporal). This works for children age 3 months and older. If a child under 3 months old has signs of illness, this can be used for a first pass. The doctor may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.
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Ear (tympanic). Ear temperatures are accurate after 6 months of age, but not before.
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Armpit (axillary). This is the least reliable but may be used for a first pass to check a child of any age with signs of illness. The doctor may want to confirm with a rectal temperature.
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Mouth (oral). Don’t use a thermometer in your child’s mouth until they are at least 4 years old.
Use the rectal thermometer with care. Follow the product maker’s directions for correct use. Insert it gently. Label it, and make sure it’s not used in the mouth. It may pass on germs from the stool. If you don’t feel okay using a rectal thermometer, ask the doctor what type to use instead. When you talk with any doctor or nurse about your child’s fever, tell them which type you used.
Below are guidelines to know if your young child has a fever. Your child’s doctor may give you different numbers for your child. Follow your doctor’s specific instructions.
Fever readings for a baby under 3 months old:
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First, ask your child’s doctor how you should take the temperature.
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Rectal or forehead: 100.4°F (38°C) or higher
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Armpit: 99°F (37.2°C) or higher
Fever readings for a child age 3 months to 36 months (3 years):
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Rectal, forehead, or ear: 102°F (38.9°C) or higher
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Armpit: 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
Call the doctor in these cases:
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Repeated temperature of 104°F (40°C) or higher in a child of any age
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Fever of 100.4° (38°C) or higher in baby younger than 3 months
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Fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child under age 2
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Fever that lasts for 3 days in a child age 2 or older