Frequent Urination in Children: Causes, Symptoms and Cure

We as parents always go through situations where your child needs to pee when you are out shopping or at a restaurant or even at the park. For some reason, this happens when there are no restrooms in sight leaving you to do the only thing possible i.e. letting them go on the side of the road hoping no one sees you. While scolding your child for not going to the washroom before he/she left home is one approach that every parent has taken, a better understanding of why they do what they do will help parents understand where they are coming from.

What Is An Overactive Bladder?

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a type of urinary incontinence, where the urine is involuntarily released. A child may need to urinate frequently and since it’s uncontrollable, he or she may not be able to reach a restroom in time to urinate. Though common in children it does happen to adults as well. This is especially true for women who have recently delivered and have gone through urinary incontinence. OAB shouldn’t be mistaken with bed-wetting which is caused entirely due to different factors. Frequent urination is scientifically known as Pollakiuria.

What Causes Frequent Urination?

If your child is frequently urinating without being able to control the urge to pee, then talking to your doctor would be a good step to determine the cause.

The main symptom of pollakiuria in children is that they need to urinate almost 10 to 30 times in a day but only small amounts of urine. This affects children between ages 3 to 8yrs old. Though there is no concrete evidence to support this theory, many experts feel it is a psychological problem where stress plays a major role. There are many causes of frequent urination in children, some of them are:

• Urinary Tract Infection: One of the causes of frequent urination can be a urinary tract infection or UTI. Frequent urination, accompanied with pain and a burning sensation while peeing are few symptoms of UTI. Washing your child, after bowel movement has to be done the right way i.e. from front to back is important to avoid UTI, especially in girls. This prevents the germs from the rectal cavity to enter into the urinary tract.
• Diabetes insipidus: Insufficient levels of the anti-diuretic hormone which controls the output of urine can cause diabetes insipidus. The child apart from frequent urination will also suffer from an insatiable thirst, may show signs of dehydration, poor growth, and loss in appetite.
• Lifestyle based: Consuming a lot of fizzy drinks and caffeinated beverages can lead to frequent urination as well or an overactive bladder. Overeating foods like chocolates, spicy foods, and fruits rich in citric acid should also be avoided.
• Avoiding urination: Some children get into a habit of not going to the restroom and in turn, their frequency of urinating reduces but the quantity of urine in the bladder increases. To relieve the pressure on their bladders the sphincter muscle that controls urine tends to be overactive and triggers frequent urination.

Symptoms

Pollakiuria symptoms in children include

• Pain and burning sensation while urinating
• Excessive thirst
• Fever and abdominal pain
• Change in colour of the urine from transparent to cloudy and may have an odour
• Sudden weight loss
• Frequent UTIs

Diagnosis Of Overactive Bladder In Children

Once any of the above symptoms are observed in a child, the doctor will run a few tests to diagnose whether the child is indeed suffering from OAB or anything else. The results will help them determine what the causes might be. Few of the tests done are:

• Urine Culture: If the symptoms look like a UTI, then a urine culture will be done to identify the bacteria causing the infection.
• Urine Analysis: A urine test or analysis will be done to determine the cause of frequent urination.
• Blood test: To rule out if the child is having diabetes a blood test will be conducted.

Treatment

There are several treatments for frequent urination in children. The frequency reduces in time as the child grows up and can hold his/her bladder for a longer duration of time. At times, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics if the cause is a UTI. The doctor would encourage proper bathroom habits like going to the restroom every few hours and controlling the urge to go in between. This technique is used for kids across the world and is called “bladder retraining”. If the child is suffering from anxiety related issues or stress, encouraging the child to talk to someone they trust or a psychologist may help understand what is worrying him/her. In case the child’s frequent urination is because of diabetes then the doctor will prescribe appropriate insulin medication to keep the high blood sugar levels in control.

Preventive Measures

Prevention is always the best option and in this case, there are various measures one can make to avoid your child from developing OAB, here are few tips:

• Proper hygiene is very important not only in case of OAB but many other urinary infections.
• Educating children on the right way to wash after a bowel movement is essential.
• Teaching girls how to squat while urinating may help prevent them from getting infected by UTIs while using public restrooms.
• Use of chemicals and strong soaps on the genitals is not advisable.
• Kegel exercises can help improve muscle strength and improve the urge of frequent urination.
• Motivational therapy is a good option to encourage your child to maintain a proper toilet schedule and adhere to it. Rewarding good behaviour will reinforce it and help the child to follow the schedule.
• Reassure your child that he/she is healthy and this condition will pass and that they need not worry. Help your child to relax if you feel he or she is suffering from some form of stress or tension. Make sure your child has enough free time and a structured play time.

Are There Any Home Remedies To Treat Frequent Urination In Kids?

At times, simple home remedies may prove beneficial in helping the child to treat frequent urination. Following a proper schedule for the child to urinate and rewarding the positive feedbacks act as an incentive which can make a difference. Give bladder friendly foods and drinks like curds, water, and fibre while avoiding foods that cause irritation like chocolate, caffeinated beverages etc.

Overall frequent urination in children can be exhausting to both child and parent. The condition itself is treatable and harmless. Following preventive measures can also help children to avoid developing an overactive bladder resulting in frequent urination. As the child grows up and can have better control of his/her bowel muscles, this condition will reduce and phase away. It is essential that you know that this is temporary and assure your child of the same. Be a source of support to your child and be positive.