Can kids get urinary tract infections?

Yes. Urinary tract infections (UTI) are rather common in kids. By the time they turn 5, about 8% of girls and about 1-2% of boys have had at least one. In older kids, UTI may cause obvious symptoms such as burning or pain during peeing. In infants and young children, UTI may be harder to detect because symptoms are less specific, with fever being the only sign at times. UTI occurs much more frequently in girls, because a girl's urethra is shorter and closer to the anus. Uncircumcised boys younger than 1 year also have a slightly higher risk of developing a UTI. Children can get UTI from poor toilet and hygiene habits such as the use of bubble baths or soaps that irritate the urethra. For girls, remember to teach them to wipe from front to back. On the positive side, UTI in kids are highly treatable, but it's important to get treatment early. Undiagnosed or untreated UTI can lead to kidney damage, especially for kids younger than 6 years of age.