guidelines

uti in under 16s: diagnosis & management (nice ng224)

a clinician-facing summary of paediatric uti: symptom likelihood cues, urine sampling/testing strategy by age, when to refer urgently (especially <3 months), and imaging/follow-up principles based on nice ng224.

last reviewed: 2026-02-13
based on: NICE NG224 (published 27 Jul 2022)
reviewer: Dr Kola Tytler MBBS CertHE MBA MRCGP
view official NICE source

Follow-up & imaging: when to think beyond “simple cystitis”

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest-risk age group?
Infants under 3 months with suspected UTI should be managed as high risk with urgent paediatric assessment.
Does NG224 provide symptom likelihood tables?
Yes. NG224 includes evidence-based tables describing symptoms/signs that increase or decrease the likelihood of UTI in under 16s and links these to urine-testing decisions.

Transparency

This page is an educational, clinician-written summary of publicly available NICE guidance intended for trained healthcare professionals. It uses original wording (not copied text) and should be used alongside the full NICE source, local pathways, and clinical judgement. Doses provided are for general reference; always check the BNF/SPC.