Urinary Tract Infections in Children
Symptoms
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children may not cause obvious urinary symptoms. Symptoms of a UTI in an infant or young child may include:
- Fever. This may be the only symptom in infants.
- Irritability.
- Lack of appetite.
- Failure to gain weight or develop normally.
- Foul-smelling urine.
- Crying during urination.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
In an older child with a UTI, symptoms are usually easier to recognize and may include:
- Pain or burning when urinating.
- Urge to urinate frequently but usually passing only small amounts of urine.
- Loss of bladder control, new bed-wetting, or other changes in urination habits.
- Pain in the lower abdomen.
- Reddish or pinkish urine.
- Cloudy or foul-smelling urine.
- Pain in the back just below the rib cage, on one side (flank pain).
A doctor's evaluation can determine whether a UTI or another condition is causing your child's symptoms.
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| Author: | Debby Golonka, MPH | Last Updated: April 30, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology | |
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