Health Library Antibiotics for Urinary Tract Infections in ChildrenFrom Healthwise

These antibiotics kill the bacteria that commonly cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children.

Most antibiotics come in pill or liquid form. Some antibiotics may be given as a shot. The doctor may give antibiotics in the vein (intravenously) if your child is younger than 2 to 3 months old, is very ill or nauseated, or has a severe kidney infection.

Antibiotics treat a UTI and prevent complications of infection such as kidney damage.

Antibiotics also prevent infections in children who have had or may be at risk for recurrent UTIs. The doctor might prescribe preventive antibiotic therapy if your child has:

• Had more than two UTIs in a 6-month period.
• A structural problem, such as vesicoureteral reflux, that increases the risk of additional infections.

Doctors are undecided about how long a child should take preventive antibiotics. However, some experts believe that long-term use of low-dose antibiotics can safely prevent UTIs in children.¹

Antibiotics are effective in curing most UTIs. Your child should feel better within 48 hours after beginning antibiotics. If your child doesn't feel better, call your doctor, who probably will prescribe a different antibiotic.

Common side effects of antibiotics used to treat UTIs include:

• Nausea or vomiting.
• Mild diarrhea.
• Skin rashes, hives, or itching.

Severe allergic reactions to antibiotics are unusual but do occur. They include:

• Trouble breathing.
• Being very tired.
• Fever or chills.
• Chest pain.
• Skin rashes, hives, or itching.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

Be sure your child takes all of the medication the doctor prescribes, even if he or she is feeling better. If your child does not take all of the antibiotics as prescribed, the infection may return. Not taking the full course of antibiotics also encourages the development of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. This makes antibiotics less effective and bacterial infections more difficult to treat. Antibiotic-resistance among bacteria that cause UTIs has increased steadily in recent decades. Your doctor may have to prescribe different antibiotics, and different combinations of antibiotics, to find the right medication that will kill the bacteria causing your child's UTI.

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Citations

1. Karpman E, Kurzrock EA (2004). Adverse reactions of nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole in children. Journal of Urology, 172(2): 448–453.

Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: April 30, 2007
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology
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