The bladder is an organ that stores liquid waste---in the form of urine---until the body excretes it. If your child has difficulty urinating, urinates frequently or complains of urinary or stomach pain, speak with your pediatrician to have her evaluated for a bladder disorder.
Congenital Bladder Diverticulum
Congenital bladder diverticulum is a disorder that results in the formation of enlarged pouches---called diverticula---within a child's bladder. Bladder diverticuli typically occur if there is a weak point within the muscular bladder wall. Pressure within the bladder causes the bladder to protrude through the bladder wall at this weak point, forming an abnormal pouch-like diverticuli. The primary symptom of congenital bladder diverticulum in children is recurrent infection of the urinary tract. If your child develops frequent urinary tract infections because of congenital bladder diverticulum, your child's pediatrician may recommend surgery to remove the diverticula and repair the bladder wall. Certain children born with this condition may not experience any symptoms and typically do not require treatment.
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is a condition in which your child is unable to control his flow of urine. The majority of young children commonly experience episodes of urinary incontinence, which will typically resolve as the child gets older. If your child has urinary incontinence, she may urinate while she is sleeping---a common condition called bed-wetting. Children who experience frequent urinary incontinence during the day often have an alternative medical condition, such as a urinary tract infection. As your child ages, episodes of urinary incontinence typically diminish until she is able to hold her urine in a healthy way. If your child continues to experience urinary incontinence---especially after the age of 5---your pediatrician may recommend the use of certain medications or bladder training exercises to help your child overcome this condition.
Exstrophy of the Bladder
Exstrophy of the bladder, which the Children's Hospital Boston also refers to as classic exstrophy, is a medical condition in which the bladder is inside out and is located on the outside of the abdomen. Though rare, this condition causes urine to constantly leak onto the external skin, which can cause irritation. Typically, children with exstrophy of the bladder undergo surgery as infants to replace the bladder within the body, which resolves the symptoms of this condition.
