According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, with the exception of the first 3 months of life, girls are more likely than boys to have urinary problems. You should be concerned about urinary problems in children because they may not be able to tell you about their symptoms, or may be embarrassed about having them. A child can suffer from many different urinary problems.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a loss of urinary control. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, or NKUDIC, reports that incontinence is less frequent after a child turns 5 years of age. However, 10 percent of 5-year-olds and 5 percent of 10-year-olds suffer from incontinence. NKUDIC also reports that urinary incontinence can result in bedwetting or accidents during the day, perhaps while your child is at school, and this can be quite stressful for your child. According to NKUDIC, having a small bladder, longer sleeping periods and underdevelopment of your child's body alarms to signal a full bladder can all be the cause of urinary incontinence.
Kidney Stones
According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, kidney stones are another type of urinary problem that can occur in children, though this is rare. Kidney stones consist of salts and minerals in the urine that form small stones. Kidney stones can be extremely painful, and can cause frequent urination, nausea and vomiting in your child. The Palo Alto Medical Foundation reports that usually these stones have to pass on their own, and your physician will treat your child's pain with pain medication until they do pass. However, kidney stones can become stuck in your child's ureter, and this condition may require surgical treatment.
Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, can lead to urinary problems in your child. According to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, UTIs result from the bacteria Eschericha coli, or E. coli, which are present in the digestive tract and can accidentally enter the urinary tract. Once this bacteria enters the urinary tract, it can work its way up to the bladder and irritate the bladder wall. It can also enter the kidney and cause a more serious illness in your child that may require hospitalization for treatment. Urinary tract infections can cause significant pain, and can cause frequent urination or incontinence in your child. In addition, your child's urine may have a strong or foul smell to it, and she may suffer from a fever. Some children may have diarrhea or vomiting, or refuse to eat. Treatment for this condition usually involves a course of antibiotics.
References
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation: Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation: Urinary Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older
- Palo Alto Medical Foundation: Kidney Stones
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC): Urinary Incontinence in Children
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