Urinary Tract Infections In Children

Excerpt

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in children. UTI is typically caused when bacteria ascend from the urethra into the urinary tract. Infection may occur anywhere from the urethra to the renal parenchyma. Upper tract UTI is a UTI involving the kidneys and ureters, whereas lower tract UTI is a UTI involving the bladder and urethra. Commonly used terms for UTI based on the location of infection are urethritis (infection limited to the urethral mucosa), cystitis (infection limited to the bladder), and pyelonephritis (infection further ascending to the kidneys).

Bacteria may be present in the urinary tract without causing inflammation and symptoms. This condition is called asymptomatic bacteriuria. Sterile pyuria is increased white blood cells in urine with no bacterial growth on urine culture.

Complicated UTIs are UTIs in newborns, urosepsis, a bladder and/or an abdominal mass, congenital anomalies of kidneys and the urinary tract (CAKUT), organisms other than Escherichia coli, atypical clinical course, renal abscess and absence of clinical response to an antibiotic within 72 hours.