Introduction

This guideline relates to urinary tract infections (UTI) in paediatric patients. For more information on assessment and management, please see: Clinical Practice Guidelines:Urinary tract infection

Unless referred by a paediatrician, paediatric patients with confirmed or suspected UTI without a fever will most likely be seen by General Medicine in the first instance.

When to refer

• Patients <18 years
• Abnormal renal ultrasound with the following (urgent <30 days):
  • Signs of renal impairment
  • Anatomical defect such as hydronephrosis
• Recurrent afebrile UTI (more than 3 in one year)
• Associated hypertension
• Do not refer if single afebrile UTI >24 months of age with no other findings

If any of the following are present or suspected, please direct the patient to the Emergency Department (no referral required):

• Infant <1 month of age
• Any infant <6 months of age with signs of sepsis

Wait time for appointments at RCH

Specialist Clinic wait times

Services available closer to home

Alternative paediatric services available in Victoria:

• Eastern Health
• Monash Medical Centre
• Sunshine Hospital
• The Northern Hospital
• The  Austin
• Werribee Mercy

Referral criteria/required information

• Detailed history and assessment, including duration of symptoms and details of all treatments offered or tried
• Assessment of bladder and bowel function (including constipation)
• Growth charts, including current height and weight
• Observations including temperature and BP
• Urine MCS
• Renal ultrasound report

How to refer

Specialist Clinics referral

Please complete the above and submit via:

• Facsimile: (03) 9345 5034 or
• Email screferrals@rch.org.au
• Urgent referral or clinical query call (03) 9345 5522

Suggested pre-referral management

• Consider role of prophylactic antibiotics
  
• Do not arrange a routine VCUG (voiding cystourethrogram)
  

Information for families

Kids Health Info:Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Resources and inks

• Clinical Practice Guidelines:Urinary tract infection
• Clinical Practice Guidelines:Febrile child

Acknowledgements

The development of this guideline reviewed in June 2026.