It is important to find out if your child has a UTI quickly, so it can be treated. UTIs are diagnosed by a urine test. Your doctor will also examine your child and ask about their symptoms.

Your doctor may arrange for a blood test if they are concerned about your child’s health, for example if your child is very dehydrated (when there is not enough water in their body). The blood test results can give the doctor more information, including about their kidney function (how well the kidneys are working) and whether your child has had a recent infection.

Risk factors

Children with abnormal urinary tracts are at higher risk of getting UTIs. Tell your doctor if your child has:

• any problems when passing urine, or a poor urine flow
• fever (temperature over 38ºC) that keeps coming back
• abnormalities of one or both kidneys found before or at birth
• a family history of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or kidney disease
• constipation (difficulties doing a poo)
• history of bladder dysfunction (the bladder does not completely empty when passing urine), such as neuropathic bladder
• an injury in the spine (backbone)
• poor growth
• high blood pressure (hypertension)

Imaging tests

If your child has recurrent (repeated) UTIs, they may need to have an imaging test to find out the cause of the infections. These use special scanners that get images (pictures) of the inside of their body. The tests include:

• Ultrasound scan – looks at the shape and size of the kidneys and other parts of the urinary system. A small handheld device is moved around your child’s skin and uses sound waves to create an image on a screen.
• MCUG (sometimes called a VCUG) – checks for vesicoureteral reflux, when urine goes back up the wrong way. A special dye is put into the bladder using a long thin tube through the urethra. A series of X-ray images are taken while your child passes urine.
• MAG3 – shows whether blood is going in and out of the kidneys, and whether your child is passing urine normally. A chemical that gives out a small amount of radiation (energy) is injected into one of your child’s blood vessels, and a special camera takes pictures.
• DMSA – looks at the kidneys to check whether they are normal or have any damage. A chemical that gives out a small amount of radiation (energy) is injected into one of your child’s blood vessels, and a special camera takes pictures.

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