If your child has been lethargic, irritable, or not drinking or eating well, these symptoms should begin to improve in 1 - 2 days.
(Note: if your child has a brain or nervous system disorder, or has abnormal changes or defects in their urinary tract, talk to your doctor before following these instructions.)
Your child will be given antibiotics to be taken by mouth at home. These may come as pills, capsules, or a liquid.
Your doctor may also give your child a drug to relieve the burning pain and urgent need to urinate. The urine will have an orange or red color to it when taking this drug. Your child will still need to take antibiotics.
Your child should urinate often and drink plenty of fluids.
Changes in bathing or hygiene may help prevent some UTIs:
Constipation should be avoided. Your child should eat foods with high fiber, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables.
See or call your child's health care provider after they finish taking antibiotics to make sure that the infection is gone.
Call your doctor right away if the following symptoms develop: (These may be signs of a possible kidney infection.)
Also call your doctor if your child has already been diagnosed with a UTI and the symptoms come back shortly after finishing antibiotics.
At any time in the future, call your health care provider for symptoms of a bladder infection:
White B. Diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections in children. Am Fam Physician. 2011 Feb 15;83(4):409-15.
Williams G, Craig JC. Long-term antibiotics for preventing recurrent urinary tract infection in children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Mar 16;(3):CD001534.
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2012, A.D.A.M., Inc. Duplication for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions.