Do you know the subtle signs?

Pediatric urologist explains symptoms of urinary tract infections in kids

Urinary tract infections are common in kids, but diagnosing them can be tricky. Dr. Audrey Rhee, a pediatric urologist at Cleveland Clinic Children's, says the signs can be somewhat subtle.

"You have to say, oh, they're having high-grade fever, they're not eating very well, they kind of look lethargic or tired. You need to bring them into the pediatrician right away," explained Rhee.

Recommended Videos



Other signs of a UTI include irritability or cloudy urine. Older kids may tell you they're having pains in their lower abdomen or may be going to the bathroom more often. Rhee says that if the subtle signs point to a possible urinary tract infection, your pediatrician may ask that your child be catheterized.

"Oftentimes these kids are not potty-trained, so they do need to get catheterized, and I know that it's very invasive and nobody wants their child to undergo such a procedure, but it does give us a lot of information that is really important," Rhee said.

Rhee adds, if you catch a urinary tract infection early, some oral antibiotics will be prescribed to treat it. If it's not treated early enough, she says your child could be hospitalized.