Renal & urology · UKMLA & AKT

Urinary tract infection in children

A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise urinary tract infection in children — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.

Key high-yield points

  • Infants (<3 months): fever, lethargy, poor feeding, irritability, vomiting, faltering growth, prolonged jaundice - no localising urinary symptoms
  • Young children (3 months - 3 years): fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, change in urine smell, screaming on micturition
  • Older children (>3 years): dysuria, frequency, urgency, suprapubic pain, haematuria, cloudy/foul-smelling urine
  • Upper UTI (pyelonephritis): fever ≥38°C, loin/back pain, nausea and vomiting, rigors, renal angle tenderness

Fever without an obvious source in a child under 2 years is a UTI until proven otherwise - always obtain a urine sample before attributing fever to a viral illness.

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