The symptoms of a UTI include:

• Pressure in the lower pelvis
• Pain or burning with urination
• Frequent or urgent need to urinate
• Need to urinate at night
• Cloudy urine
• Blood in the urine
• Foul or strong urine odor

Young children with UTIs may only have a fever, or even no symptoms at all.

• Painful sexual intercourse
• Penis pain
• Flank (side) pain, vomiting, or fever and chills (may be a sign of kidney involvement)
• Mental changes or confusion (in the elderly, mental changes or confusion often are the only signs of a urinary tract infection; possible spread to the blood should be considered)

• A urinalysis commonly reveals white blood cells (WBC) or red blood cells (see also RBC - urine).
• A urine culture (clean catch) or catheterized urine specimen may be performed to determine the type of bacteria in the urine and the appropriate antibiotic for treatment.

TESTING IN CHILDREN

Because many children with cystitis have something abnormal about their anatomy that predispose them to infections, because these infections are usually preventable, and because the long-term consequences of repeated urinary tract infections in children can be quite serious, many children with cystitis need special imaging studies to determine why they got a urinary tract infection.

These studies usually include both an ultrasound of the kidneys and an x-ray taken during urination (called a voiding cystourethrogram or VCUG).

Most experts recommend this evaluation for:

• Girls over age 5 with 2 or more urinary tract infections
• All boys with their first urinary tract infection
• All children who have a fever along with their urinary tract infection
• All children under age 5 with their first urinary tract infection