Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect approximately 2.4% to 2.8% of children every year in the
United States and account for nearly 1.1 million office visits annually. 1 Hospital costs for
pediatric patients with pyelonephritis (kidney infection) total greater than $180 million per
year in the US 1 Diagnosis of a UTI may be difficult because young children often present
with nonspecific symptoms such as fever, poor oral intake, vomiting, or irritability. Unlike
adults, children may develop renal scarring and hypertension secondary to an acute …

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in children, especially in young girls. UTI is present in
about 5 percent of febrile infants and 2 percent of febrile children younger than 5 years of
age. Infection confined to the lower urinary tract (cystitis) can recur, but it is generally not
associated with long-term complications. However, infections of the upper urinary tract
(pyelonephritis) can cause permanent scarring and renal damage. Hoberman and Wald
describe the defining characteristics of both types of infection, along with the recommended …