Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is an infection that can affect a person of any age and is a result of bacteria infecting the urinary tract. This can be the kidneys, urethra, bladder, or ureters. UTI is a common condition in children and is treatable. The early warning signs of UTI might be clearer in adults, but this might not be the case with infants and young children. So, it is important to consult a doctor if you feel that something is amiss. Note that babies usually only show the symptom of fever.

Early warning signs of UTI in infants and young children

• Vomiting or diarrhea that isn’t going away
• Inability to develop normally or difficulty in gaining weight
• Urinating often but only expelling a small amount of urine
• Foul-smelling urine
• Pain below their belly button
• Crying when they urinate or being fussy
• Being irritable most of the time
• Feeling pain when they urinate or feeling a burning sensation
• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Variation in their urination pattern and waking up at night to urinate

Early warning signs of UTI in older children

• Feeling like they have difficulty urinating because of a burning sensation or pain while urinating.
• Experiencing pain in the flank, the area above the waist and right underneath the rib cage. The pain can occur on both or one side of the back.
• Noticing foul-smelling urine every time they urinate, although this was not the case earlier.
• Inability to urinate properly since they can expel only a small amount of urine, and feeling the need to urinate more often than usual.
• Inability to control their bladder, due to which they feel like they are unable to hold the urine in their bladder.
• Noticing that their urine is cloudy or pink or red in shade.
• Experiencing sudden pain in the lower abdominal area that doesn’t go away quickly.

Tips to prevent UTI in young children

• Ask your child to use the bathroom whenever they wish to instead of holding in the urge to urinate.
• Make your child wear comfortable clothes that are not too tight as tight clothes might lead to moisture being trapped.
• Teach your child to properly wipe from front to back rather than the other way round after they use the toilet.
• Ensure that your child is drinking enough water daily to stay hydrated, and consulting your child’s doctor about the recommended quantity is ideal.
• Cotton inners are the best choice as compared to the other materials.

If you notice your child developing the symptoms of UTI, it is best to consult a doctor so that they can evaluate and examine the child’s condition. The diagnosis is done by taking a urine sample. At times, the symptoms that your child has developed might point to another condition, but lack of attention and care might also lead to complications that can cause a great deal of discomfort to your child.