Bedwetting and wetting pants during the day time may be linked to infection but lots of children do this and do not have infections. To decide if your child has an infection, a urine sample must be collected and sent for testing. Other tests are needed to find out if there is bladder reflux or kidney damage. A kidney ultrasound looks at kidney size and shape. Some or all of these tests may be needed, depending on the seriousness of the situation.
Treatment is with a course of antibiotics.
If the child is too sick to swallow them the antibiotics will be given through a vein in hospital. Other problems found may need different types of treatment. It is uncertain what the long term effects of an infection are. About 20-30 percent of children have more than one infection. If urine infections occur repeatedly and are not treated, this may lead to kidney damage, high blood pressure and poor growth.