Bladder Infection (Urinary Tract Infection—UTI) in Children

A bladder infection is a common type of urinary tract infection most often caused by bacteria that enter the bladder and multiply. If untreated, a bladder infection can spread to your child’s kidneys and develop into a more serious infection.

Bladder infection symptoms can be very different in children than in adults, especially for infants and children younger than age 2 years. Bladder infections are most often caused by bacteria.

Health care professionals use a medical history, physical exam, and lab tests to diagnose bladder infections in children. Health care professionals may also order imaging tests.

If your child has a bladder infection caused by bacteria, your child’s health care professional will prescribe antibiotics. You can help speed up your child’s recovery and ease symptoms by offering more liquids. You may help your child prevent bladder infections by encouraging good habits to keep the urinary tract healthy.

Researchers don’t think that diet can help prevent or treat most bladder infections in children. However, eating high-fiber foods to prevent constipation may help prevent some bladder infections in children.

NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions, including urologic diseases. The trials look to find new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life.