Bladder infections, or cystitis, are commonly referred to as urinary tract infections, or UTIs, which are a common cause of fever in children. According to the Merck Manuals, UTIs occur in about 5 percent of children between 2 months and 2 years of age.
Symptoms
Contrary to adults, fever is a prominent symptom of bladder infections in children. In fact, it may be the only symptom, especially in infants and toddlers. Other nonspecific symptoms in this age group include irritability, feeding difficulty, vomiting, jaundice and lethargy. Older children usually exhibit fever, frequent urination, foul-smelling urine and/or pain during urination.
Causes
Bacteria are the main cause of UTIs in children. According to Medline Plus. bacteria get into the urinary tract to cause infection when conditions are favorable for them. Some of these conditions include wiping from back to front after going to the bathroom, which in girls, can bring bacteria to the opening of the bladder, called the urethra; birth defects of the urinary tract; bubble baths and tight-fitting clothes in girls; and vesicoureteral reflux.
Considerations
Vesicoureteral reflux, in which urine abnormally flows from the bladder back into the kidneys, is a common cause of UTIs in children. According to the Merck Manuals, about 30 to 40 percent of infants and toddlers with UTIs have vesicoureteral reflux as the main cause.
Diagnosis
Because children can have nonspecific symptoms of bladder infections, a urinalysis and a urine culture may be necessary to diagnose them. The urinalysis checks for the presence of white blood cells, the cells that fight off infections, in the urine. The urine culture detects the presence of bacteria in the urine, but usually takes about 24 to 48 hours to determine the results. An ultrasound may be necessary to detect any anatomic abnormality in the bladder or the kidneys that may have predisposed the child to a bladder infection.
Treatment
Bladder infections are treated with antibiotics. Children with mild infections who are not dehydrated and are drinking enough fluids can take oral antibiotics, either in the form of crushed pills or more commonly in liquid form. Sicker children with high fever, vomiting and inability to tolerate fluids by mouth may need hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics and fluids.
