UTI is one of most common childhood bacterial infections, affecting approximately 8% of children <19 years with urinary symptoms and/or fever.[7]Becknell B, Schober M, Korbel L, et al. The diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of acute and recurrent pediatric urinary tract infections. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2015 Jan;13(1):81-90.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4652790
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25421102?tool=bestpractice.com
[8]Stein R, Dogan HS, Hoebeke P, et al. Urinary tract infections in children: EAU/ESPU guidelines. Eur Urol. 2015 Mar;67(3):546-58.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25477258?tool=bestpractice.com
Nearly 50,000 children were admitted to hospital with UTI each year between 2000 and 2006 in the US, accounting for 1.8% of pediatric hospitalizations.[9]Spencer JD, Schwaderer A, McHugh K, et al. Pediatric urinary tract infections: an analysis of hospitalizations, charges, and costs in the USA. Pediatr Nephrol. 2010 Dec;25(12):2469-75.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4741383
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20711740?tool=bestpractice.com
Infant boys <3 months of age and infant girls <1 year old show the highest prevalence rates.[10]Shaikh N, Morone NE, Bost JE, et al. Prevalence of urinary tract infection in childhood: a meta-analysis. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Apr;27(4):302-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18316994?tool=bestpractice.com
Prevalence also increases between ages 2 and 4 years, during toilet training.[11]American College of Radiology. ACR appropriateness criteria: urinary tract infection - child. 2023 [internet publication].
https://acsearch.acr.org/docs/69444/Narrative
The overall prevalence of UTI in children <2 years of age with an undifferentiated febrile illness is approximately 5%.[12]Gorelick MH, Shaw KN. Clinical decision rule to identify febrile young girls at risk for urinary tract infection. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2000 Apr;154(4):386-90.
http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=349060
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10768678?tool=bestpractice.com
UTI is more common in boys than in girls during the first year of life. After 12 months of age the prevalence of UTI is higher in girls than in boys.[13]Schmidt B, Copp HL. Work-up of pediatric urinary tract infection. Urol Clin North Am. 2015 Nov;42(4):519-26.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4914380
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26475948?tool=bestpractice.com