Urinary tract infection (UTI) factsheet
Introduction
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common infections in the urinary system. The parts of the urinary system that are commonly infected are:
- kidneys: filter waste from the blood, turning it into urine or wee
- ureters: thin tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder
- bladder: stores urine
- urethra: tube that takes urine out of the body.
UTIs are caused when germs enter the urinary system through the urethra and grow. Females are at higher risk because their urethra is shorter and closer to the anus or bottom.
UTIs are common in babies and children. If left untreated, they can cause serious illness.
Signs and symptoms
UTIs can look different depending on your child’s age.
See your doctor as soon as possible if your child shows signs of a UTI.
Babies and children under three years old
Because babies and toddlers are unable to communicate how they are feeling and often wear nappies, symptoms of a UTI may look like:
- irritability
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- drowsiness
- poor weight gain
- fever
- blood in the nappy.
Children over three years old
Children over three years old may show signs like:
- complaining of pain or stinging when urinating
- an “urge” to do a wee more often than usual
- wetting their pants, even if toilet-trained
- difficulty starting to do a wee and only getting a little bit out each time
- pink, red or brown-coloured urine
- stomach pains
- fever.
Symptoms of more severe infections
See your local doctor as soon as possible or go to your nearest emergency department if your child shows signs of a more severe UTI or an infection that has spread. Symptoms include:
- fever that does not go down
- back pain
- feeling very tired.
Diagnosis
Your local doctor can diagnose a UTI based on your child’s symptoms and by testing a urine sample.
They may give you a sterile jar and ask you to collect some of your child’s urine when they go to the toilet. For babies, this may mean catching the urine while their nappy is off, or their doctor may need to use a catheter to collect urine from the bladder.
Your child may need to have an ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys if they are:
- experiencing repeated or severe UTIs
- male
- under three months old.
This is to make sure the bladder and kidneys are not also infected.
Treatment
Babies under three months old are treated in hospital. They will be given antibiotics through an intravenous (IV) cannula or drip.
Children older than three months are usually given antibiotics taken by mouth.
It is very important that your child takes their antibiotics as directed by the doctor, even if they start to feel better.
Your child’s doctor can also prescribe medicine to help with pain or stinging when your child goes to the toilet.
Management
Care at home
UTIs are uncomfortable but will usually clear up quickly with proper treatment. If your child is experiencing pain or the urge to go to the toilet more often than usual, you can keep them at home to rest and recover. Your child should drink plenty of fluids while they recover to help keep the urinary system healthy.
UTIs are uncomfortable but will usually clear up quickly with treatment.
Give your child time to rest and recover if they are in pain or have the urge to go to the toilet more than usual. Make sure they drink plenty of fluids to help keep their urinary system healthy.
Prevention
UTIs are very common, and some children may experience UTIs that come back many times.
Try the following to lower the risk of UTIs.
For babies:
- focus on good nappy hygiene - changing nappies soon as they poo and wiping front to back
- avoid creams, powders, or wipes with fragrance, as they can irritate the urethra.
For children:
- teach them to wipe from front to back after going to the toilet
- encourage them to drink plenty of fluids to keep the bladder healthy and avoid constipation
- encourage them to do a wee in the toilet when they feel the urge, not hold it in or go more often than necessary
- avoid products that can irritate the urethra, like bubble baths and scented soaps.
For teenagers who are sexually active:
- wash hands before and after sex
- shower before and after sex
- urinate after sex
- speak to your local doctor or sexual health clinic if they have repeated UTIs.
