Referral criteria from primary care - UTI in a child
Some suggest that all children (boys and girls) should undergo appropriate investigations after the first proven UTI (1). However NICE guidance states imaging varies with respect to age of the child and features of the UTI (2).
With respect to the acute presentation of a possible UTI in a child (2):
- infants and children with a high risk of serious illness should be referred urgently to the care of a paediatric specialist
- infants younger than 3 months with a possible UTI should be referred immediately to the care of a paediatric specialist. Treatment should be with parenteral antibiotics
- for infants and children 3 months or older with acute pyelonephritis/upper urinary tract infection:
- consider referral to a paediatric specialist
Reference:
- Balighian E, Burke M. Urinary Tract Infections in Children. Pediatr Rev. 2018 Jan;39(1):3-12.
- NICE. Urinary tract infection in under 16s: diagnosis and management. NICE guideline NG224. Published July 2022
Related pages
- Recommended imaging schedule for infants younger than 6 months
- Recommended imaging schedule for infants and children 6 months or older but younger than 3 years
- Recommended imaging schedule for children 3 years or older
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) in children
- Assessment and diagnosis of possible UTI in a child
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