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Bladder Problems in Teens

Teens with bladder problems may develop urinary tract infections usually related to bacterial causes. Other problems can be related to gender, chronic illness or water intake habits. Another bladder problem for teens is bed-wetting. Teens who sleep very heavily or who have smaller-than-usual bladder capacities are more prone to nocturnal enuresis.

  1. Urinary Tract Infections

    • Teens are susceptible to three types of urinary tract infections. In order of progression from the outside of the body in, the first type is urethritis, which is an infection of the urethra. Cystitis causes the true bladder infection. Pyelonephritis, which is the most severe urinary tract infection, actually infects your kidneys. Cystitis (bladder infection) happens most frequently and is easily treated.

    Infection Causes

    • The most common cause of your bladder infection is intestinal bacteria which has traveled from the outside of the body via feces into your urethra and bladder. If you have had a bowel movement and wiped from back to front, you may have introduced the bacteria into your urinary tract. Females, even teens, have shorter urethras than men, making it easier for bacteria to travel into their bladders. If you are diabetic, pregnant or if you do not drink enough water, you are also more prone to bladder infections.

    Nocturnal Enuresis Defined

    • Bed-wetting or nocturnal enuresis happens when the teenager involuntarily releases urine during sleep. This is officially called nocturnal enuresis in a girl if she is more than 5 years old, or in a boy if he is more than 6 years old.

    Causes

    • Teens who wet their beds are more likely to be very heavy sleepers who do not feel the signals from their bladders letting them know they need to get up and go to the bathroom. In addition, many teens who have a problem with bed-wetting have small bladder capacity, meaning their bladders cannot hold very much urine. Teens with sickle cell anemia, diabetes insipidus or diabetes mellitus may be more likely to wet their beds; however, most will waken when they feel their bladders are full. Psychological issues usually do not lead to enuresis.

    Symptoms

    • Nighttime bed-wetting is an involuntary action. During the day, teens will not have accidents; they will be able to make it to a bathroom in time to void. In the absence of a urinary tract infection, the teen will feel no physical symptoms such as pain or burning during urination.

    Treatments

    • Non-medication treatments for the teen include decreasing fluid intake several hours before bedtime, setting an alarm in order to wake up and go to the bathroom and using the bathroom before going to bed for the night. The teen should also try to enlarge her bladder and increase the strength of her sphincter by holding her urine during the day for increasing time periods. However, she should not hold her urine for so long that she develops a bladder infection. If these measures do not help, she can take medications. These are imipramine chloride, a tricyclic antidepressant and Desmopressin. However, teens who discontinue these medications will experience a relapse into bed-wetting.

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