Common Urological Problems in Kids – Dr. Neeta Verma
Not just adults need to see a urologist for diseases that primary care doctors can’t adequately treat. Because they are less able to articulate their bodily complaints, children with urological problems require a different approach to treatment and diagnosis. Here are three of the most typical urological problems teenagers have in case you’re a parent wondering if your kid needs to consult a urologist.
In this article, Dr Neeta Verma, one of the best urologists in Bhubaneswar discusses some of the most common urological problems that kids face.
Kids are vulnerable and so parents must play their part to protect and comfort their children, you can check out here for tips on how to help your child to deal with urological conditions.
The common urological problems that children go through are as follows:
1. Nocturnal Enuresis:
Enuresis is also known as bed wetting. Bedwetting is the most common elimination disorder. Bedwetting is common for children below the age of 5. It is only when bedwetting becomes persistent and goes beyond the age of pre-school that a parent and doctor can decide that going to the urologist is in order.
There are two kinds of nocturnal enuresis:
● Primary nocturnal enuresis – the child has wet the bed since they were a baby. This is the most common type of enuresis.
● Secondary enuresis – a condition that develops- 6 months or several years after- a person has learned to control their bladder. Secondary enuresis must be diagnosed with the doctor.
Causes of Nocturnal Enuresis
Although the exact reason why bedwetting happens is not found. Dr. Neeta Verma, one of the best urologist in Bubaneshwar says it is thought to happen because there might be a development delay in the following,
a. Sleep: Some kids and teens sleep very deeply, so they cannot wake up when they need to pee.
b. Bladder problems: Sometimes too many muscle spasms (A bladder spasm, or “detrusor contraction,” occurs when the bladder muscle squeezes suddenly without warning, causing an urgent need to release urine) can prevent the bladder from holding a normal amount of pee. Some kids and teens have smaller bladders that can’t hold in urine.
c. Genetic problems: About 40% of the time, children of parents who wet the bed beyond age five may experience the same issue. Each of their offspring would have an about 70% probability of experiencing the same issue if both parents had bedwetting issues as kids.
d. Stress: One of the most frequent causes of secondary enuresis is this. Moving to a new house or school, going through a parental divorce, losing a parent or other loved ones, or going through another significant life event all cause stress in children. This tension can cause bedwetting; addressing the stress can stop the bedwetting.
e. Obstructive sleep apnea/snoring: In rare cases, bedwetting happens because a child has obstructive sleep apnea and snores. Children with this condition have a partly blocked airway that can briefly stop their breathing when they sleep. This can change the brain’s chemical balance, which may trigger bedwetting.
f. Constipation: The bowels and bladder are located relatively close to one another in the body. Youngsters may lose control of their bladder due to a backed-up bowel (constipation). In these situations, treating constipation is frequently the initial step in treating bedwetting. Your child’s pain or straining during bowel motions may be causing them to wet the bed.
g. Neurologic disease: Bedwetting can occasionally be brought on by a spinal cord issue that appears with growth or that first appears in childhood. A spinal problem can be possible if your child also experiences other symptoms like leg discomfort, tingling, or numbness. This is a fairly uncommon reason for bedwetting, though.
Treatment for Nocturnal enuresis
Dr. Neetu verma, one of the best urologist in Bhubaneswar, suggests some treatments for noutral enuresis which includes,
● Restricting fluid intake after dinner (limit fluids two hours before bedtime)
● Getting enough liquids throughout the day
● Avoid bladder irritants, especially citric acid, chocolate, carbonated (“fizzy”) beverages, coloured or dyed liquids, and caffeine.
● A bed wetting alarm is a type of conditioning therapy to help your child identify the need to wake up and use the bathroom. The type of alarm should have both a vibrating mechanism and an auditory alarm to help wake the child. Proper use of this requires consistency and patience. This may take a few months to see progress, but it is estimated 60-70 percent of children will see improvement when properly used.
2. Urinary tract infection
Children frequently experience urinary tract infections. They take place when bacteria enter the kidneys or bladder.
An infant with a UTI could be fussy, have a fever, or vomit. Older children could have a fever, pain when urinating, a lot of urination needs, or lower abdominal pain.
Children with UTIs should visit a doctor. These infections won’t go better on their own. UTIs are straightforward to treat and typically go away in a week or so.
Antibiotic use helps youngsters recover from illnesses by killing bacteria. You must administer all the recommended doses of antibiotics to ensure their effectiveness, even if your kid begins to feel better.
Causes of UTI
● Because a girl’s urethra is shorter and more closely connected to the anus, UTIs are significantly more likely in girls (where poop comes out). Boys who have not yet been circumcised have a slightly greater chance of developing a UTI.
● an issue with the urinary system (for example, a malformed kidney or a blockage somewhere along the tract of normal urine flow)
● An unnatural urine flow (reflux) in the opposite direction, up the ureters and toward the kidneys. This condition is referred to as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and it is common in children with UTIs.
● bad bathroom and hygiene practices
● relatives with UTIs
Treatment for UTI
Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Your doctor could repeat the urine tests to confirm that the infection has disappeared after taking antibiotics for a few days. Since an untreated UTI may recur or spread, it’s crucial to ensure this.
Give prescribed antibiotics as directed by your doctor, as many days at a time. Keep track of your child’s bathroom visits and inquire about any discomfort or burning they may have when urinating. When the antibiotics are administered, these symptoms should start to subside in two to three days, Dr. Neeta Verma, one of the best urologists in Bhubaneswar.
Most UTIs are treated within one week with treatment. Ensure your child drinks lots of fluids and stops drinking caffeinated and carbonated products.
3. Hernia
Dr. Neeta Verma, one of the best urologists in Bhubaneswar says, Hernias can form before birth but can also appear in young children following a traumatic strain or minor injury. Umbilical hernias are rarely a cause for alarm and typically completely resolve on their own by the time a kid reaches the age of two. However, hernias that develop after birth may cause urination problems and require a urologist’s treatment.
There are numerous reasons why children may experience restroom issues and require the treatment of a urologist; however, some of these are more frequent than others. It may be time to schedule an appointment with a urologist if your child has been attending primary school for a while and is still peeing the bed. Children with hernias may need medical attention, particularly if they were not detected at birth.
Finally, it is normal for kids to occasionally develop urinary tract infections, but these infections should go away on their own after a week and aren’t expected to last, says Dr. Neeta Verma, one of the best urologists in Bhubaneswar.
Causes of Hernia
A hernia can develop in the first few months after a baby is born. It happens because of a weakness in the abdomen muscles. Straining and crying don’t cause hernias
As a male baby grows during pregnancy, the testicles develop in the abdomen. Then they move down into the scrotum through the inguinal canal. Shortly after the baby is born, the inguinal canal closes. This stops the testicles from moving back into the abdomen. If this area does not fully close, a part of the intestine can move into the canal through the weakened area of the lower belly wall. This causes a hernia.
Girls don’t have testicles. But they do have an inguinal canal. So they can also have hernias in the groin.
Treatment for Hernia
● If a laparoscopic (scope) approach is used: Small cuts are made on the belly allowing the scope and instruments to be inserted to see and repair the hernia.
● If the bowel is trapped in the hernia (incarcerated or strangulated): The surgeon will first ensure that the blood supply to the bowel has not been cut off for too long. If it has, a small piece of bowel may need to be removed and the bowel sewn back together.
