What finding should a nurse expect when assessing a school-age child with a urinary tract infection?

When assessing a school-age child with a urinary tract infection (UTI), the finding expected is enuresis, or the involuntary loss of urine. Enuresis can occur in children with UTIs due to increased urgency and frequency of urination, which can lead to episodes of bedwetting or daytime accidents, even if the child has previously been toilet trained.

This symptom may arise because the irritation of the bladder lining and the need to urinate frequently can overwhelm the child's control mechanisms. Children may experience a strong urge to urinate often and might not be able to reach the bathroom in time, resulting in enuresis.

While frequent urination, fever, and nausea may also occur with a UTI, enuresis specifically highlights the impact of the infection on the child's bladder function and control, making it a key observation for healthcare providers in this scenario.