children s health issues
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in Children
Treatment of UTI in Children
Antibiotics Sometimes surgery UTIs are treated with antibiotics. Children who appear very ill or whose initial test results suggest a UTI are given antibiotics before culture results are available. Otherwise, doctors wait for culture results to confirm the diagnosis of UTI. Children who are very ill and all newborns receive antibiotics by injection into either a muscle (intramuscularly) or a vein (intravenously). Other children are given antibiotics by mouth. Treatment typically lasts about 7 to 10 days. Children who require tests to diagnose structural abnormalities often continue antibiotic treatment at a lower dose until tests are complete. Some children with structural abnormalities of the urinary tract require surgery to correct the problem. Others need to take antibiotics daily to prevent infection. Children who have severe VUR usually need surgery and need to take antibiotics until they have the surgery. Children who have VUR that is not severe are monitored closely and may be given antibiotics. Certain cases of mild to moderate VUR resolve without treatment. 