Medical History and Physical Exam for Urinary Tract Infection in a Child

Important parts of the medical history for a possible urinary tract infection (UTI) include:

• Any symptoms noticed by you or your child.
• Your child's history of urinary tract infections or other urinary tract problems.
• Your child's urination habits and any recent changes in those habits, such as new bed-wetting or loss of bladder control.
• Any history of constipation.
• Any related aspects of your family's health history, such as history of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in a sibling or parent.

During the physical exam, the doctor may examine your child's abdomen, lower back, and genital area and may do a rectal exam. The doctor will take your child's temperature.

A thorough medical history and physical exam can often help rule out other possible causes of your child's symptoms. Providing an accurate medical history is especially important for parents, since children may not be able to tell you how they feel and may have different symptoms than an adult with the same condition would have.

Credits

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Avery L. Seifert, MD - Urology
Last Revised	March 10, 2011