16.09.2020

Causes of UI in children

Up to a certain age it is natural for children not to have control over their bladder. However, when a child, according to the adult’s point of view, should already control it’s physiological functions but can’t do it, this is when things start to get difficult.

Children are reluctant to speak about their problem, they clam up, and the parents don’t really know how to handle the whole situation.

What is more, when the parents ask for the doctor’s opinion they are seldom provided with a straightforward advice.

Bladder control and the development of all the necessary body functions and mechanisms are not inborn – one has to learn them. Developing those skills happens gradually as the child grows. Usually at the age of 3–5 this skill should be already established.

Usually a child starts to control its physiological functions during the day. It gradually learns how to hold the urine overnight. The delay in establishing these mechanisms responsible for excretion leads to urination disorders.

There are 2 basic disorder types:

1. Urinary incontinence – uncontrolled urine loss – a child is aware of the fact of losing urine, but can’t control it; the urine is lost in small portions;
2. Involuntary wetting – uncontrolled urination, which the child should already be able to control due to its age, however is unable to control the bladder; it is a function disorder which is not connected with the urinary tract damage; the bladder is voided completely, for example during sleep.

The most common reasons of urine loss problem development in children:

• urinary tract infections or defects
• bladder tumour
• cerebral palsy
• physical disability
• obesity
• constipations
• diabetes
• food allergies
• epilepsy
• neurological disorders
• psychological problems.

Involuntary bedwetting at night is the most common. Learn more about this problem here.