About UTIs

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in kids. By age 5, about 8% of girls and 1%-2% of boys have had at least one UTI. They occur when the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra become infected.

Symptoms of a UTI can include:

• pain when urinating
• changes in frequency, appearance, or smell of urine
• fever
• chills
• loss of appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• lower abdominal pain
• lower back pain or discomfort

UTIs can also cause bedwetting in kids who were previously dry at night. Infants and young children may only show nonspecific signs such as fever, vomiting, or decreased appetite or activity.

Some kids experience UTIs again and again — these are called recurrent UTIs. If left untreated, recurrent UTIs can cause kidney damage, especially in kids younger than 6. So it's important to know how to recognize the signs of these infections and get help for your child.

Types of UTIs

Common types of UTIs include:

• cystitis, the most common type of UTI, is a bladder infection that can occur when bacteria move up the urethra (the tube-like structure that allows urine to exit the body from the bladder) and into the bladder
• urethritis, when bacteria infect the urethra
• pyelonephritis, a kidney infection that can occur when infected urine flows backward from the bladder to the kidneys, or when an infection in the bloodstream reaches the kidneys