Symptoms are usually non-specific in a young child. Fever trends to be the only resistant symptom among young children. In some infants, there may be a poor feeding, increased irritability, vomiting, diarrhoea and bad smelling urine.

In older children, the symptoms are more specific to the urinary tract. They may have pain or a burning sensation on urination, increased frequency of urination, having the urge to urinate even after emptying their bladders, lower abdominal pain and uncontrolled wetting. Pain over the lower back and fever may suggest a more serious infection.