• Pain or stinging when urinating
• Needing to urinate often or really badly
• Urine that smells bad or looks milky, cloudy, or reddish in color
• Pain in the lower belly (abdomen)
• Feeling tired, shaky or having a fever

If a child is irritable, is not eating normally, has an unexplained fever that doesn’t go away, has incontinence or loose bowels, or is not thriving, then he or she may have a urinary tract infection.  The child should see a health care provider immediately.

• Drink plenty of water every day.
• Urinate when you need to, don’t hold it in.
• Wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering the vagina or urethra.
• Avoid use of feminine hygiene sprays or douches.
• If you get a lot of urinary tract infections and use spermicides or creams that kill sperm, talk to your health care provider about using other forms of birth control.