Kidney infections in children
The kidneys
filter waste products from the blood and produce urine. Urine normally does not contain bacteria. However, bacteria that are present in the digestive system may enter the urethra and travel through the bladder and ureters to the kidneys, causing an infection. In rare instances, bacteria will travel through the blood and infect the kidney.
When a kidney infection occurs, usually only one kidney is infected. Several symptoms are common when you have a kidney infection, and each symptom can range from mild to severe. Most children who have a kidney infection will have two or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain in the back, just below the rib cage, on one side of the body (flank pain)
- Fever of 101°F (38°C)or higher or chills
- Vomiting
- Frequent need to urinate without being able to pass much urine (frequency)
- Burning pain with urination (dysuria). Suspect dysuria if your child begins to cry when urinating.
Symptoms of kidney infection vary depending on the age of the child. Newborns and children younger than 2 may have other vague signs, such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 30, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology | |
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