Painful Urination: How to Care for Your Child

Painful urination is when it hurts to pee. It's also called dysuria (dis-YER-ee-uh). In kids and teens, the most common causes are irritation and infection. Your child had testing to find the cause of their painful urination. Follow these instructions as you care for your child while you wait for the test results.

• If your health care provider prescribed medicine, help your child use as directed.

• Have your child drink plenty of fluids.

• To help with irritation:

  • If possible, have your child take a shower instead of a bath. 

  • If they must take a bath, they should avoid bubble baths and use soap or body wash, shampoo, and conditioner only at the end of the bath. This way, they're not sitting in water with bath products in it.

  • For females, wipe from front to back, especially after pooping.

  • Use fragrance-free laundry products and avoid fabric softener. 

• Whether your child showers or takes a bath, be sure they rinse the urethral area well with clear water at the end of bathing and then dry gently with a clean towel.

• If your health care provider says it's OK, your child can take acetaminophen (Tylenol^® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil^®, Motrin^®, or a store brand) to help with pain. Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often.

• If your child is sexually active and was tested for a sexually transmitted infection (STI, also called sexually transmitted disease, or STD) or is going for testing, they should not have sex until the testing is done and they get treatment (if needed).

• Call for lab results and schedule any follow-up visits as recommended.

Your child gets new or worsening:

• blood in the pee

• pain or burning when peeing that gets worse 

• back, side, or belly pain

Also call your health care provider if your child gets a fever, starts vomiting, or still has symptoms after following all care instructions.

Your child:

• has severe belly pain

• can't pee

What causes painful urination in kids and teens? Common causes include:

• irritation or swelling of the urethra (where the pee comes out) from clothing, detergents, fabric softeners, soaps, or bubble bath

• vaginitis (irritation of the lining of the vagina)

• a urinary tract infection (UTI)

• STI

How is painful urination treated? It depends on the cause. Irritation of the urethra and vaginitis is treated by using milder products, making changes in bathing routines, and sometimes medicated creams or ointments. UTIs and STIs are treated with antibiotics.