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Bladder infection in children

A bladder infection in children is usually bacterial. Babies and young children may only have fever, irritability or poor feeding; older children may have burning and frequent urination. Prompt assessment helps prevent a kidney infection.

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  • A urinary tract infection (UTI) in a child is usually caused by bacteria entering the bladder through the urethra. A bladder infection may spread up to the kidneys.
  • Babies and young children do not always have burning when passing urine. Fever without a clear cause, poor feeding, vomiting, irritability or poor growth may be the only sign.
  • Older children may have pain when passing urine, frequently pass small amounts, have abdominal pain, new urine leakage or bedwetting and cloudy or bloody urine.
  • Have a suspected UTI in a child assessed the same day. Prompt assessment is especially important for a young baby with fever.
  • A properly collected urine sample before antibiotics helps confirm the diagnosis and choose the right medicine. Do not collect urine from a wet nappy.
  • A bacterial UTI is treated with antibiotics. Give the correct children's medicine in the prescribed amount and for the prescribed duration; never use leftovers.
  • Fever with back or side pain, shivering, vomiting, drowsiness or dehydration may indicate a kidney infection or serious infection.
  • Recurring or unusual infections may require investigations of the kidneys, bladder, urine flow and bowel/bladder habits.

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Further reading

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Bladder infectionA bladder infection, or cystitis, is usually a bacterial infection of the bladder. It may cause burning when passing urine, frequent urges and lower abdominal pain; without treatment, an infection may spread up to the kidneys.
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Bladder infection in menBladder infection symptoms in men need a doctor's assessment, because a urinary tract infection (UTI) is less common and may be linked to the prostate, urinary retention, stones or another problem. A urine sample helps guide treatment.
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Bladder infection in womenBladder infections are common in women because the urethra is shorter. Burning, frequent urges and pressure in the lower abdomen are typical; pregnancy, fever, back pain or blood needs earlier assessment.