Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence can affect children for many different reasons, from a change in their lifestyle to a physical problem that affects their bladder control. It's important to seek treatment to find out why the problem is happening and what can be done to resolve it.

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence occurs when someone loses control of their bladder. Incontinence in children can occur mainly at night, while they are sleeping, or during the day. If your child has never learned to control their bladder then it is known as primary incontinence. If they did learn, but then started having problems controlling urination, then they have secondary incontinence.

Diagnosing Urinary Incontinence in Children

Children rarely have full control of their bladders before the age of three. Even after this age, it is common for children to have the occasional accident, especially while they are sleeping. However, some children may struggle to control their bladders even after the age of five or six. Others may develop secondary incontinence, where they start having accidents again after learning to control their bladders. If your child is struggling to learn bladder control or stops being able to control urination, then it could be a sign of an underlying issue that needs to be addressed. 

Urinary incontinence can be very upsetting for both you and your child, so it is important to see a doctor if you're worried about it. The doctor will ask about your child's medical history, lifestyle, and symptoms. You may be asked to keep a bladder diary to record when accidents happen and how often your child urinates. A physical exam and tests such as an ultrasound scan may be performed to check for any problems that could be making it harder for your child to control their bladder. It is also important to talk to the child to find out if there are any reasons why they may be struggling.

Causes of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence in children can sometimes be a sign of stress or anxiety. A big change such as starting school, worrying about something, or having a traumatic experience could affect your child's bladder control.

However, loss of bladder control can also be a sign of a physical problem. Conditions such as urinary tract infections (UTIs) could temporarily affect your child's bladder control. Structural problems with the urinary tract could also make it harder for your child to control urination.

Treatments for Urinary Incontinence

Once the cause of the problem has been identified, your doctor will be able to recommend the right treatment approach. It might include addressing sources of stress in your child's life, lifestyle changes and bladder training to improve control, or surgery to address a physical issue.

Simple changes such as drinking less, cutting out soft drinks that contain caffeine, and setting a schedule so your child urinates regularly, can often help to prevent accidents. Sometimes medication can be used to tackle underlying issues such as ADHD, clear a UTI, or tackle problems with the muscles that control the bladder. If there is a structural problem, such as an abnormality in the urinary tract, then surgery may be recommended.