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Warning-sign checks

Bladder infections in children: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek prompt reassessment if urinary symptoms return.

    Keeping a record of fever, symptoms, urine culture results, antibiotics, and imaging can help clinicians recognize patterns.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has a fever with a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade under pressure, or severe headache
    • has a wound that is hot, spreading red, or leaking pus
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Routine follow-up is especially useful for children with repeated UTIs, abnormal imaging, constipation, urine holding, weak urine flow, or ongoing wetting.

    A pediatric urologist or kidney specialist may be involved when infections are recurrent or the urinary tract may not be working normally.

The article also says

Symptoms often begin to improve after effective treatment starts.

Contact the treating clinician if symptoms are not improving as expected, fever continues, the child becomes more unwell, or vomiting prevents medicine from staying down.

The clinician may contact the family when the culture is complete.

The result may confirm the infection, show that a different antibiotic is needed, or suggest that the sample was contaminated.

Do not change treatment without discussing the result with the treating clinician.

A repeat urine culture is not always needed after a child has recovered from an uncomplicated infection.

It may be appropriate when symptoms continue, the infection returns, or there are other clinical concerns.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Bladder infections in children. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.