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This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.

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Australian Prescriber Vol. 22 No. 2 1999

Childhood urinary infections

Children can develop infection in the urine. Older children usually complain of pain on passing urine, but in younger children the symptoms are less clear. Infants may get a temperature, go off their food or fail to grow for no apparent reason.

Most urine infections are caused by bacteria. Although these are easily treated with antibiotics, the diagnosis must be confirmed. This is done by sending a urine sample to a laboratory.

The first time an infection occurs, the child should be investigated. Tests are done to see if the bladder or kidneys are normal. Some abnormalities can increase the risk of infection. Repeated infections can damage the kidneys, so some children may need to take antibiotics regularly to stop the infections recurring.