Symptoms of bladder infection include burning with urination, frequent urination, and a feeling of extreme urgency to need to go. Virtually all kids will have burning and at least one other symptom. The urine may smell strong or foul, and there may also be blood in the urine. Younger kids who can’t yet communicate these symptoms or are in diapers will typically act like they are in pain when urinating, complain of lower abdominal pain, and will likely have fever and strong-smelling urine.
If you think your child may have a bladder infection, and he is vomiting and has a high fever, he should be seen that day or at an urgent care after hours as this may be a kidney infection.
If no fever or vomiting, and no severe back pain (which indicates a possible kidney infection), then evaluation is less urgent and you can try some of these home remedies:
- Do a home test from a drug store to see if it’s a bladder infection.
- Start Vitamin C three times daily: 250 mg for babies and toddlers, 500 mg for preschoolers, and 1000 mg for elementary and older; Start D-mannose (follow dose on bottle), and cranberry juice or chewables. You may find products in any drug store that have all these ingredients. Drink lots of water.
- If symptoms persist for a few days, or they worsen despite these natural remedies, then call us for an appointment and we can consider antibiotics. Most simple bladder infections will, however, resolve with these measures and don’t even need to be seen or given antibiotics.
