Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are frequently occurring bacterial infections in young children, and a delay in diagnosis and treatment can result in irreversible damage to the developing kidneys, leading to long-term consequences such as renal scarring, renal insufficiency, and hypertension.[1]
Pyelonephritis denotes an infection in the upper urinary tract, while cystitis refers to an infection in the lower urinary tract.
The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) provides the following recommendations for the treatment of UTIs in children[2]:
- Cystitis can be effectively treated with Nitrofurantoin or Amoxicillin, administered for a duration of 5 to 7 days.
- Complicated UTI and acute pyelonephritis can be addressed by initiating Amikacin as a single dose for the initial days until the child can tolerate oral feeds. Subsequently, the antibiotics may be switched to an oral preparation based on susceptibility patterns. The recommended duration of treatment is 14 days, with no support for short-term regimens for UTIs in children.
- Children with vesicoureteric reflux can undergo treatment with antibiotic prophylaxis, administered as a single night-time dose. Nitrofurantoin or Co-trimoxazole is the preferred choice for children beyond three months of age.
