UTI in Toddlers: Symptoms, Signs & What to Watch For

According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a service of the National Institutes of Health, urinary tract infections are the cause of more than 1 million pediatric visits each year. A UTI--a bacterial infection of your toddler's urinary tract--can cause certain symptoms but is often overlooked in toddlers who don't show clear signs of infection.

Urine Appearance

• If your toddler's urine changes appearance, becoming cloudy or bloody, or it develops a foul or unusual smell, then she most likely has a urinary tract infection.

Changes in Habits

• Often a toddler with a UTI will refuse to eat or may vomit. Unexplained changes in toilet habits, such as increased wetting accidents, frequently accompany a UTI in toddlers, as well.

Fussiness

• A toddler experiencing a urinary tract infection may experience pain or a burning sensation when urinating, which he typically indicates with excessive fussiness, crying or straining during urination.

Fever

• According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a fever (ranging from low-grade to high) may indicate that your toddler has a urinary tract infection.

Considerations

• If you notice UTI symptoms in your toddler, contact your little one's pediatrician immediately for diagnosis and treatment. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse says urinary-tract infections may lead to serious kidney infections.