- Harvard Profs Sue Trump Administration Over Removal of LGBTQ Research From Website
- White House Pulls CDC Nominee Dr. Dave Weldon Before Senate Hearing
- Dr. Oz Accused of Underpaying Medicare Taxes Ahead of Nomination Hearing
- Low Birth Weight Kids Lag In School Readiness
- Playing With Dogs Relieves Stress In Humans And Canines Alike
- Nostalgic? It’s Better For Friendships, Mental Health
- Implant, Robotics Can Ease Paralysis From Spinal Cord Injuries
- AI-Written Doctor’s Notes? Patients Don’t Mind, Study Says
- Sugar-Free Slushies Can Make Kids Seriously Ill, Experts Warn
- Small Number of Acne Products Recalled for Problematic Levels of Benzene
Kids Can Get UTIs, Too

Adults aren’t the only ones susceptible to urinary tract infections, or UTIs. They can occur in kids, even infants, if bacteria get into the urinary tract, often from the bowel.
Any child can get a UTI. But some kids are more prone than others, and girls get them more often than boys.
A UTI doesn’t always cause symptoms, and a very young child can’t voice his or her discomfort. Be on the lookout for these common signs.
Under Age 2
- Fever — call your doctor if your baby has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher.
- Vomiting or diarrhea.
- Acting irritable.
- Not wanting to eat.
Older Kids
- Pain or burning while urinating.
- Urinating or trying to urinate often.
- Urine that’s a strange color and/or smells bad.
- Pain in the lower back or lower abdomen.
- Fever.
Once an infection is confirmed with a urine test, antibiotics will knock it out. Be sure you give all the medication as directed.
Though the average UTI isn’t serious, not getting prompt treatment can be. That’s why most doctors will have you start antibiotics even before getting results of a urine test. Just a two- or three-day delay in treatment can harm the kidneys.
To help avoid UTIs, make sure kids go to the bathroom when they need to and talk to them about not holding their urine. See to it that they drink plenty of fluids — remember that urine flushes out harmful bacteria.
More information
The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more on UTIs in kids, from causes to treatments.
Source: HealthDay
Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.