Infections of the bladder, ureters, urethra or kidneys are called urinary tract infections (UTIs), and occur in 1 to 2 percent of boys and 8 percent of girls 5 years old and younger. Doctors at Riley at IU Health offer expert care for everything from isolated bladder infections to complex urologic conditions that put children at increased risk for urinary tract infections.
Symptoms that suggest a urinary tract infection are:
Bacteria that live in the gastrointestinal tract (E. coli), viruses or fungi can cause some urinary tract infections. Others are related to poor bathroom habits in children or a condition at birth, such as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). When a child has VUR, urine backflows through the urinary tract system and increases the risk of urinary tract infection. An estimated 40 percent of children who have urinary tract infections are later diagnosed with VUR.
Our doctors and nurse practitioners do more than simply treat an infection. We determine whether your child’s urinary tract infection may have a physiological or anatomical explanation or whether it could be linked to voiding habits.
Common voiding habits that increase children’s risk of urinary tract infections are:
If your child has a persistent problem with recurrent UTIs or underlying problems with good voiding habits, your physician may suggest additional evaluation or testing. Riley at IU Health has a Pediatric Continence Program, where nurse practitioners are expertly trained to help your child improve voiding habits related to their individual conditions.
Our specialists use methods adapted for children of all ages. We can help your child make simple behavioral changes that may prevent future infections, including:
These conservative steps can improve or eliminate a tendency for UTIs for most children. Children who have conditions related to anatomy or physiology may be prone to more serious infections that do not respond to behavioral changes. This includes:
As one of the top-ranked pediatric hospitals in the U.S., Riley at IU Health has urologic specialists who are skilled in diagnosing and treating the underlying causes of pediatric UTIs and incontinence.
Diagnosis begins with urinalysis and urine culture. Our specialists will ask about your child’s history with peeing/pooping and diet. Sometimes it is necessary to insert a catheter into the bladder to collect a sterile sample for these tests. This can determine whether your child’s infection is an isolated case or related to poor voiding habits.
If initial tests suggest the infection is more than an isolated UTI, your child’s doctors may order more specialized tests to find an underlying cause. These may include:
Some tests are more invasive than others. Our child life specialists are available to help your child through any test with minimal discomfort or pain.
A short course of antibiotics quickly resolves most bladder infections. We can also decrease the risk of recurrent UTIs in children by carefully assessing their habits with peeing and pooping. What first appears to be a urinary tract infection may actually be unhealthy peeing habits and/or constipation, which can further irritate the bladder. If your child’s UTI responds to conservative treatment and never returns, there is usually no cause for further concern.
Care can be more complex for recurring UTIs with a high fever (febrile urinary tract infections) because they can lead to less common conditions like pyelonephritis, which occurs when a child’s UTI travels to the kidneys.
Pyelonephritis can cause lasting damage to the kidneys and severe illness in children. This is why it is important to seek care from a pediatrician when your child has symptoms that resemble a UTI, especially when he/she has a fever. Pyelonephritis may be connected to a more serious underlying problem.
When the root cause of recurring UTIs or pyelonephritis is linked to anatomy or physiology, surgical treatment may be necessary. Our specialists are trained in advanced procedures that can correct a child’s anatomy and restore a healthy urinary tract system.
Riley at IU Health offers a broad range of supportive services to make life better for families who choose us for their children's care.
This National Institutes of Health website offers information and links related to health conditions, including urinary tract infections.
This resource is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and provides information to help parents understand urinary tract infections.
This website is supported through the American Academy of Family Physicians and has public information for conditions such as urinary tract infections.
This organization supports healthcare practitioners in urology. Their website includes information on urinary tract infections.
This organization provides education and support to family physicians. Their online publication, American Family Physician, includes information about diagnosing and treating urinary tract infections.
This organization supports pediatricians and offers information for parents on diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections through their website, HealthyChildren.org.
In addition to our primary hospital location at the Academic Health Center in Indianapolis, IN, we have convenient locations to better serve our communities throughout the state.
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