Are there other signs I need to see a doctor?

Sometimes the symptoms of a UTI can be similar to other conditions, such as

• A sexually transmitted infection, eg. Chlamydia
• Diabetes (passing larger amounts of urine than normal & excessive thirst)
• Kidney stones (spasms of pain in the back or groin)
• Kidney infection (fever/chills, flu-like-symptoms, tummy pain, back pain)
• Thrush (itchy vulva, sometimes a discharge or odour)
• Recurrent UTI (3 or more UTIs in 1 year).

…if you’re worried it could be any of these things, it is best to see a doctor in person.

What is the treatment for a UTI?

For a straightforward UTI, usually an antibiotic will be prescribed by your doctor (subject to an appropriate assessment).  It is also advisable to take plenty of fluids. If symptoms aren’t improving within 2 days of starting treatment, it is important to see a doctor in person, to see if a different antibiotic may be needed, and to get checked for any other conditions or underlying causes. 

What if the antibiotic is not working?

If the antibiotic is not leading to improvement within 2 days, there could be a number of explanations:

• most commonly, it means the bacteria causing the infection are resistant to the first antibiotic- an different antibiotic may be needed, Your doctor may need to send a urine sample to the lab, to get tested.
• something else may be going on- such as an STI (sexually transmitted infection), thrush, kidney stones – your doctor will need to examine you and may need to arrange some further tests.

How do I reduce the chances of getting another UTI?

Women may be able to reduce the chances of getting further UTIs by:

• Always wiping front to back after passing urine
• Passing urine immediately after having sex
• Avoiding vaginal deodorant sprays
• Wearing cotton underwear
• Drinking plenty of water

How is a UTI diagnosed?

• Your doctor may suspect a UTI based on your child’s symptoms
• They may perform a dipstick test on your child’s urine, and a sample may be sent to the lab for further tests.
• Sometimes an ultrasound scan of the urinary tract may be advised, particularly if a child has had several UTIs.

Why do children get UTIs?

A UTI is usually caused by bacteria getting into the urinary tract through the urethra (the tube where pee comes out), which can then spread into the bladder and further up into the kidneys. These bugs most often come from the bowel or from traces of poo on the skin. Children in nappies may be more prone to this.

Less commonly, a child may have an underlying medical condition that leads to UTIs (such as urinary reflux, also known as vesicoureteric reflux). If a child gets repeated UTIs, your doctor may recommend tests, such as an ultrasound scan of the urinary tract. They may also refer your child to see a paediatrician.

When should you bring your child to the doctor?

You should bring your child to the doctor if you think they have a UTI or if they have a fever with no obvious cause. As mentioned above, any baby or younger child who is generally unwell, off their feeds, irritable or sleepy should be seen by a doctor, as it could be a UTI or some other underlying infection.

What is the treatment for UTI in children?

A course of oral antibiotics will clear infection in most cases. More severe infection may require antibiotics through an intravenous drip.

Read more about UTIs in kids at the RCH website, or speak to your GP if you have any concerns.

Further Patient Resources

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) rch.org.au

Article Resources

Desai D, Gilbert B, MacBride C. (2016). Paediatric Urinary Tract Infections: Diagnosis and Treatment

Larcombe J. (1999) Urinary Tract Infection in Children

Robinson J, Finlay J, Lang M, Bortolussi R. (2014). Urinary Tract Infections in infants and children: Diagnosis and Management

If you have symptoms of a UTI you should see a doctor as soon as possible. If you have a UTI, an antibiotic is needed as they do not get better by themselves.

What else could it be?

Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may ask you questions and do tests to rule out other conditions such as sexually transmitted infections, thrush and kidney stones. Peeing too often can also be a sign of diabetes, but there would generally be no burning or pain in this case.

What tests are needed?

If you have symptoms of a UTI, your doctor may perform a dipstick test on your urine. The urine sample may also be sent to the lab, to see if any bacteria are present. Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also recommend an STI test. In some cases, a scan of the urinary tract may be advised.

What’s the treatment for a UTI?

Treatment is usually with oral antibiotics, but for more severe infections hospital admission and an antibiotic drip may be needed.

If you are worried about symptoms of a UTI, see your doctor.

Further Patient Resources

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): including symptoms, treatment and prevention. sahealth.sa.gov.au

Article Resources

Barclay J, Veeratterapillay R, Harding C. (2017). Non- antiobiotic options for recurrent urinary tract infections in women

Jepson RG et al. (2012). Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections