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CHOC Childrens

Children's Hospital of Orange County
CHOC.org
455 South Main Street
Orange, CA 92868-3874
(714) 997-3000


What's a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

Urinary Tract Infection/UTI

Say: YUR-ih-nair-ee TRAKT in-FEK-shun, yoo-tee-eye

The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureter, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys make pee, then the ureter carries the pee to the bladder, where it is stored. The urethra carries pee out of the body when you pee. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is when one of these parts (usually the bladder) gets infected.

You might have a UTI if it hurts to pee, you have to pee a lot, your pee looks cloudy or bloody, or your pee smells bad. You also may have a fever, lower belly pain, or back pain. Kids with UTIs usually take antibiotics to get better.