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Region IX
Urinary Tract Infections in Newborns

Details: Category: Region 9; Published: 09 February 2023

UTI in newborns Did you know that newborns can get UTI too? Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are quite common in infants. It happens when bacteria enter the urinary tract through the urethra, travel up to the bladder, ureters, and kidneys, and begin to grow. Most infections are caused by bacteria from the digestive tract. The most common is Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. These normally live in the colon.

Children who have abnormalities in the structure of their kidneys or urinary tract are more likely to get UTIs. A UTI is much more common in girls than boys since they have a shorter urethra. Your infants may have urinary tract infection if they exhibit symptoms such as fever, loss of appetite, crying during urination, cloudy, foul smelling and/or bloody urine, irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, and poor weight gain.

It may be hard to guess what’s wrong with your baby when all they can do is to cry. If you suspect your baby may have a UTI, consult your healthcare provider immediately. Treatments will depend on your child’s symptoms, age, general health, and severity of the condition. If your baby has an infection, the doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics. Babies under 3 months usually need to have antibiotics directly into a vein through a drip to treat a urinary tract infection (UTI). This means they need to be treated in hospital. Babies older than 3 months can usually be treated at home with oral antibiotics.

Good nappy hygiene can help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in babies. Change diapers as soon as you can and make a practice of wiping from front to back. Bacteria and other infection-causing microbes may enter the urinary tract when an infant has a dirty diaper or when babies are wiped from back to front. Good hydration, enabling frequent urination and maintaining proper hygiene can also help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs).

ZDN DMO II Rowence F. Zorilla, RND

References:

1. Urinary tract infections (UTI) in babies

https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/urinary-tract-infection-in-babies-and-toddlers#:~:text=In%20babies%2C%20symptoms%20of%20urinary,UTIs%20are%20treated%20with%20antibiotics.