Urinary Disorders in Children

Urinary disorders in children can be distressing for both a child and his parents. Not only can a disorder be embarrassing, it can also be painful. A doctor can help determine the underlying cause of the disorder and explain treatment options.

The Facts

• Urinary disorders in children cause symptoms including incontinence, both during the day and at night, and painful urination. They can be cause by a physical abnormality, an issue with a child's growth or an infection. Disorders caused by physical abnormalities can differ between boys and girls because of physical differences between the genders. Some disorders require medical intervention, up to and including surgery, to correct. Others a child will outgrow over time.

Hypospadias

• Hypospadias is a urinary disorder that occurs in boys. A boy with hypospadias has the opening of his urethra located somewhere along the length of the underside of his penis, rather than at the tip. Hypospadias is usually diagnosed at birth and can be repaired with surgery. If left untreated, a boy with hypospadias can experience trouble while urinating including spraying or great difficulty directing his urine flow.

Ureterocele

• Both boys and girls can have urinary disorders caused by a ureterocele. A child with a ureterocele has a physical abnormality where the opening of the ureter that runs from the kidney to the bladder is very small. This leads to urine that filters down from the kidney backing up on the way to the bladder. A ureterocele can cause excessive urination, blood in the urine and painful urination. Surgical options exist to treat this disorder.

Incontinence

• Incontinence in children can be a symptom of several urinary disorders. A child's bladder might not keep up with the rest of his body's growth, leaving it too small to handle the amount of urine filtered by his kidneys. A child with a neurological condition might not be able to feel when his bladder is full or control its emptying. Incontinence can also be caused by stress or psychological trauma.

Urinary Tract Infection

• Urinary Tract Infections are more common in adults but they can occur in children, too. Boys usually develop them before their first birthday. They usually occur in girls after the age of three. This urinary disorder can cause incontinence, blood in the urine, foul smelling urine and painful urination in children of both genders. A doctor can prescribe antibiotics that will clear the infection.