Urine testing – who needs it?

The following children need a urine sample tested [1,4]:

• Infants less than 3 months old with a fever
• Infants and children presenting with unexplained fever of >38°C
• Infants and children with an alternative site of infection should not have a urine sample tested. When infants and children with an alternative site of infection remain unwell, urine testing should be considered.
• Children with signs and symptoms of UTI

Pitfall:

1-10% of young children will have asymptomatic bacteruria (bacteria in their urine when they are well). So, finding evidence of a UTI (e.g. positive urine dipstick) in a sick child does not exclude another source of serious infection (e.g. meningitis).