What are urinary tract infections in children?

A urinary tract infection is an inflammation and irritation of the bladder, urethra, ureters, or kidneys caused by bacteria. It is also known as cystitis.The incidence seems to be highest in kids under the age of 2, with most infections occurring in the first year. The rate isn’t very high when you look at the overall population -- somewhere around 2% -- but it can be a painful condition and requires treatment to prevent it from developing into a more serious kidney infection.

From Good Kids, Bad Habits: The RealAge Guide to Raising Healthy Children by Jennifer Trachtenberg.

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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, pinkish or cloudy urine.
• Foul-smelling urine.
• Pain in the flank, which is felt just below the rib cage and above the waist on one or both sides of the back.

A doctor's evaluation can determine whether a UTI or another condition is causing your child's symptoms.