Acute management, imaging, and prognosis of urinary tract infections in infants and children older than one month

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a common and important clinical problem in childhood. Upper urinary tract infections (ie, acute pyelonephritis) may lead to renal scarring, hypertension, and end-stage renal dysfunction. Although children with pyelonephritis tend to present with fever, it can be difficult on clinical grounds to distinguish cystitis from pyelonephritis, particularly in young children (those younger than two years) [1]. Thus, we have defined UTI broadly here without attempting to distinguish cystitis from pyelonephritis. Acute cystitis in older children is discussed separately. (See "Acute cystitis in children older than two years and adolescents".)\ud \ud The acute management and prognosis of UTI in children will be reviewed here. The epidemiology, risk factors, clinical features, diagnosis, long-term management, and prevention of UTI in children and UTI in newborns are discussed separately. (See "Epidemiology and risk factors for urinary tract infections in children" and "Clinical features and diagnosis of urinary tract infections in infants and children older than one month" and "Long-term management and prevention of urinary tract infections in children" and "Urinary tract infections in newborns".