What is urinary incontinence in a child? This is a loss of bladder control, which leads to inadvertent urination.
Children cannot stay dry day or night. Sometimes urinary incontinence in a child can be caused by health problems, such as:
- diabetes;
- urinary tract infections;
- kidney problems;
- problems with nerves;
constipation
- Obstructive apnea, a condition in which breathing is interrupted during sleep, often due to sore or enlarged tonsils ;
- structural problems of the urinary tract.
In most cases, the exact cause of urinary incontinence is unknown, but it is often the result of more than one of the above factors.
Although it usually disappears with the natural passage of time, in most children, random urination during the day can lead to great distress and embarrassment.
The age at which children stop urinating varies. Urinary incontinence in a young child is not considered a disease until the age of 5 or 6 years is reached.
Enuresis
Another name for urinary incontinence is enuresis. It is of the following types:
- Primary enuresis is systematic urinary incontinence in a child who has never been dry.
- Secondary enuresis begins after at least 6 months of bladder control.
- Nocturnal enuresis - spontaneous urination usually occurs during sleep.
- Daily enuresis - daily urinary incontinence in children.
How common is the disease?
By age 5, more than 90 percent of children can control urination during the day. Urinary incontinence at night is much more common than daytime, and occurs in 30 percent of 4-year-olds, about 10 percent of 7-year-olds, 3 percent of 12-year-olds, and 1 percent of 18-year-olds.
What causes urinary incontinence in a child?
The exact cause of most cases is unknown. Sometimes it is caused by structural problems in the urinary tract, however, in most cases it is the result of a combination of certain factors, which include slow physical development, overproduction of urine and inability to recognize the filling of the bladder. This may also be due to hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit disorder or anxiety. In addition, enuresis can be transmitted genetically.
Enuresis Treatment
In most cases , child urinary incontinence disappears naturally during its growth and development and does not require treatment. If treatment is needed, options include:
1. Training to control the bladder
The training consists of exercises to strengthen the muscles of the bladder in order to better control urination. Gradually lengthening the time between going to the bathroom can also help in stretching it. Additionally, you can try:
- scheduled urination (every 2 hours);
- Avoid caffeinated foods or drinks
- muscle relaxation so that the bladder is completely empty.
2. Moisture alarm
At night, such an alarm can wake children if they begin to urinate.
3. Medicines
The hormonal drug Desmopressin is intended for use in children to prevent incontinence.
Stress urinary incontinence can be treated with Oxybutynin (Ditropan), a drug that helps calm the muscles of the bladder and relieve muscle spasm.