Symptoms & Causes of Bladder Infection in Children

What are the symptoms of bladder infections in children?

Bladder infection symptoms can be very different in children than in adults, especially for infants and children younger than age 2 years.

Bladder infection symptoms can be different in children than in adults.

Young children

Children younger than age 2 years may not have any symptoms of a bladder infection. They also may be too young to tell you something feels wrong. A urine test is the only way to know for sure if your child has a bladder infection.

Symptoms of a bladder infection in a child younger than age 2 years may include

• fever
• irritability or fussiness
• poor feeding or appetite; poor weight gain
• vomiting or diarrhea

Older children

Symptoms of a bladder infection in a child age 2 years and older may include

• a burning feeling or pain when urinating
• cloudy, bloody, or strong-smelling urine
• fever
• frequent or intense urges to urinate, even when there’s little urine to pass
• leaking urine by accident after a child has been toilet trained
• pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen

When should I seek a health care professional’s help for my child?

Contact a health care professional if your child has symptoms of a bladder infection or a fever without a clear cause.

Bladder infections can spread to one or both kidneys. Quick treatment is important if your child has symptoms of a kidney infection, such as

• fever and chills
• nausea or vomiting
• pain in the back, side, or groin

Kidney infections may cause severe pain and serious health problems if not treated early.

What causes a bladder infection?

Bladder infections are most often caused by bacteria. Rarely, fungi and viruses may cause a bladder infection in children.

Normally, the body keeps bacteria in the urinary tract in balance. Emptying the bladder, or urinating, is one way the body helps keep a healthy number of bacteria in the bladder. Emptying the bladder also helps get rid of any bacteria that may cause a urinary tract infection (UTI).

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