Urinary Tract Infections in Children

Urinary Tract Infection in Children

Private GP assessment and treatment for UTIs in babies, children, and teenagers in Essex

If your child has a temperature you cannot explain, is complaining of tummy pain, or seems generally unwell without an obvious cause, a urinary tract infection could be the problem.
At Essex Private Doctors, we assess and treat UTIs in children of all ages, from babies through to teenagers, with the experience to recognise that the signs of a UTI in a child are often quite different from those in an adult. We offer same-day and next-day appointments across Brentwood, Chelmsford, Billericay, and the wider Essex area, including after school and around the school run.

Understanding Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

UTIs are one of the most common bacterial infections in childhood, but they are also one of the easiest to miss. Older children can usually tell you that it hurts when they go to the toilet, but younger children and babies cannot, and in them the signs of a UTI can be frustratingly vague: an unexplained temperature, a general sense of being unwell, a loss of appetite, or a tummy ache with no obvious cause.

The difficulty is that unexplained temperatures are common in children, and the natural instinct is to assume a virus is responsible. But if there is no accompanying cough, cold, or other clear explanation, a urine infection should always be considered. Left untreated, UTIs in children can progress to kidney infection, and repeated or inadequately treated infections can, in some cases, cause long-term kidney damage. This is why prompt assessment and appropriate follow-up matter.

An NHS GP appointment, when you can get one, often does not allow enough time to take a proper history, organise a urine sample correctly, or discuss the follow-up investigations that may be needed. We take a thorough approach from the outset, so that nothing is missed and your child’s urinary health is properly monitored.

Recognising UTI Symptoms by Age

The way a UTI presents in a child changes significantly with age, which is why it can be so easy to overlook.

  • Babies and toddlers
    Young children cannot tell you where it hurts. In babies and toddlers, a UTI may present as an unexplained fever, irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, or simply a general sense of being unwell that you cannot attribute to anything else. Some babies may cry when passing urine, though this is not always obvious. If your baby has a temperature with no clear source, a UTI should always be considered.

  • Children aged two to five
    Pre-school children may begin to show more recognisable symptoms such as tummy pain, but may still not be able to identify that the pain is related to passing urine. Wetting accidents in a child who is usually dry, or a reluctance to use the toilet, can also be a sign that something is wrong.

  • School-age children
    Older children can usually describe more typical symptoms: a burning or stinging sensation when passing urine, needing to go more frequently, urgency, or lower abdominal pain. Some children also experience bed-wetting for the first time, or a return of bed-wetting after a period of being dry, which can indicate a urinary infection.

  • Teenagers
    In teenagers, symptoms are more similar to those in adults: dysuria, frequency, urgency, and lower abdominal discomfort for a lower urinary tract infection, or loin pain, fever, and feeling generally unwell for an upper urinary tract infection affecting the kidneys.

How We Assess and Treat UTIs

  • Urine sample and culture

    If we suspect a UTI, we will always send a urine sample for culture, not just a dipstick test. Urine culture identifies the specific organism causing the infection and confirms which antibiotic it is sensitive to. This matters because it allows us to check that the antibiotic we have prescribed is the right one, and to adjust treatment if needed. We do not rely on dipstick testing alone, as this can be unreliable in young children.

  • Starting treatment

    For children over the age of three months who are not too unwell, we can assess your child and start a course of antibiotics at the appointment. We will then review your child two to three days later to confirm they are improving and that the prescribed antibiotic matches the culture results.

  • For babies under three months

    If a UTI is suspected in a baby under three months old, we will make an urgent same-day referral to hospital. Urinary infections in very young babies carry a higher risk of serious illness and require urgent assessment that goes beyond what can be managed in primary care.

  • Ultrasound of the urinary tract

    Following a confirmed UTI, we routinely arrange an ultrasound of the urinary tract to check for any structural abnormalities that may be contributing to the infection. This is a straightforward, non-invasive scan that can be arranged promptly through private pathways.

  • DMSA scanning

    Children under three years of age who have had a UTI, and any child who has had an atypical urine infection, should have a specialised scan called a DMSA scan to check for any scarring on the kidneys. This is arranged by a paediatric specialist and is something we will organise referral for where it is clinically indicated.

Recurrent UTIs in Children

Some children experience repeated urinary tract infections, and this requires a different approach. If your child has had three or more lower urinary tract infections, or has had an upper urinary tract infection as well as a lower urinary tract infection, they should be referred to a paediatrician for further assessment and investigation, including an ultrasound scan and a DMSA scan.

In some cases, a period of daily low-dose antibiotic prophylaxis may be recommended to reduce the frequency of infections while investigations are underway. We will always review previous culture and sensitivity results as part of this process, as the pattern of previous infections and the organisms involved helps to guide the right approach.

We have established referral pathways to paediatric specialists and can arrange appointments through private pathways, typically within days.

When to Seek Urgent Help

Most children with a UTI can be assessed and started on treatment at a scheduled appointment. However, please seek urgent medical attention if your child:

  • Is under three months old and you suspect a urine infection
  • Has a high fever alongside vomiting and is unable to keep fluids down
  • Is in significant pain or appears seriously unwell
  • Has loin or back pain alongside a fever, which may indicate the infection has reached the kidneys
  • Has a known urinary abnormality or a history of recurrent UTIs and is deteriorating quickly

If you are concerned your child is seriously unwell, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.