Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Services
  • Urology
  • Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
Content

Children and UTIs

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that impacts different parts of your child’s urinary tract and left untreated can cause damage to your child’s kidneys.

Causes of UTIs

UTIs are caused by bacteria that travel up your child’s urethra and enter the bladder. The urethra is usually protected but it can become irritated and foster bacteria growth.

Bubble bath, shampoo and feces are common irritants that can result in the development of a UTI. Although it is rare, a UTI can develop if children cannot completely empty their bladders because of a blockage in their urinary tracts.

Symptoms of UTIs

Common UTI symptoms include:

  • Bedwetting
  • Dribbling
  • Frequent or urgent urination
  • Painful urination
  • Stomachache, especially in the lower abdomen
  • Strong or foul smelling urine

In addition to these symptoms, if your child has a fever, vomiting and back pain, or if your child can only pass a small amount of urine, contact your pediatrician right away.

Treating Your Child's UTI

Your child will be prescribed antibiotics to kill the bacteria that is causing the UTI. It is very important that you know what dosage to give your child and how often, especially if the medicine is liquid.

If the antibiotic is liquid, be sure to store it in the refrigerator and measure carefully before giving each dose. You will need to talk to your child’s caregivers and school about the antibiotic schedule to make sure no doses are skipped.

Encouraging your child to drink extra fluids will also help clear the UTI. If your child has a fever over 102 degrees Fahrenheit or has painful urination, you can also give your child over-the-counter medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve symptoms.

Boy drinking water

Your child should start to feel relief from symptoms within a day of starting the antibiotic treatment plan, but if your child still has a fever or painful urination 24 hours after starting antibiotics, call your pediatrician.

Even if your child starts to feel better, the medication should continue to be taken until it is finished. You may need to call your pediatrician’s office to find out the results of any urine cultures taken and schedule a follow-up appointment to have another culture taken—there's a 50 percent chance a second UTI will develop after treating the initial UTI.

Preventing UTIs in Children

Ideally, prevention is the best way to treat your child’s UTI. Although UTIs cannot always be avoided, there are many things you can do to help your child reduce the risk for developing an infection.

  • Encourage your child to drink plenty of water and other fluids every day to keep urine light-colored.
  • Encourage your child to try to urinate at least once every three to four hours during the day and not “hold it.”
  • Have your child wear loose cotton underpants during the day.
  • Try not to let your child become constipated.
  • If you have a daughter, teach her to wipe from front to back after using the bathroom, especially after a bowel movement.
  • Wash—and teach your child to wash—the genital area with water only, not soap.
  • If you give your child baths, keep bath time to less than 15 minutes and do not use bubble bath, soaps or shampoo in the water. When your child reaches puberty, bubble baths may no longer be an irritant.
  • Encourage your child to urinate after taking a bath.

Related Content

  • Pediatric Care
  • Pediatric Urology
  • Urology Treatments and Procedures

Services Near You

Memorial Hospital Los Banos

Memorial Hospital Los Banos

520 West I Street

Los Banos, CA 93635

(209) 826-0591

View All Related Locations

The Sutter Health Network of Care
Expertise to fit your needs
Primary Care

Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

Specialty Care

Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

Emergency Care

For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

Urgent Care

After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

Walk-In Care

Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare Advantage
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Residencies and Fellowships
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2022 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

    Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences