Parent & Patient Information System 06/09/2015 Page5 / 51 For younger children in diapers, a plastic bag with adhesive tape may be placed over their genitals to catch the urine. However, urine that comes in contact with the skin may become contaminated with the same bacteria causing the infection, so a catheter is usually preferred. This is when a thin tube is inserted into the urethra up to the bladder to get a "clean" urine sample. The sample may be used for a urinalysis (a test that microscopically checks the urine for germs or pus) or a urine culture (which attempts to grow and identify bacteria in a laboratory). Knowing what bacteria are causing the infection can help your doctor choose the best medication to treat it. Most children with a UTI recover just fine, but some of them — especially those who are very young when they have their first infection or those who have recurrent infections — may need further testing to rule out abnormalities of the urinary tract. If an abnormality is suspected, the doctor may order special tests, such as an ultrasound of the kidneys and bladder or X-rays that are taken during urination (called a voiding cystourethrogram, or VCUG). These tests, as well as other imaging studies, can check for problems in the structure or function of the urinary tract. Treatment UTIs are treated with antibiotics. The type of antibiotic used and how long it must be taken will depend on the type of bacteria that is causing the infection and how severe it is. After several days of antibiotics, your doctor may repeat the urine tests to confirm that the infection is gone. It's important to make sure the infection is cleared because an incompletely treated UTI can recur or spread.
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