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Can A Child Have An Overactive Bladder

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What Treatments Are Available For Overactive Bladder

Overactive Bladder

There are several treatments available to help children with their overactive bladder and you may have tried them already. Anticholinergics reduce the strength of the brains signals to squeeze the bladder and cause symptoms of OAB to be reduced. These treatments can be effective in some children, but in others may not be completely effective or may have side-effects which can become bothersome over time. There are other treatments that can be given by a doctor, which could also be effective, but again may not be as effective in some children and could have unwanted side effects. Electro-stimulation/neuromodulators may be effective but are put under the skin, can cause infections, and can have technical issues.If the above treatments dont work, in some cases bladder surgery may be suggestedSpeaking about these potential treatments with a doctor is important.

Clinical History And Diagnosis

The clinical history should include family history, neuropsychomotor development, voiding and bowel training, urinary tract infection history, school performance, and the childs behaviour and psychosocial development.23 It was recently demonstrated that there is an association between mothers and daughters with OAB.10,29 The intestinal constipation should be investigated and evaluated through the Bristol Stool Diary and the Roma III or IV score.11

OAB occurs during the bladder storage stage. However, it may be accompanied by changes in the voiding phase, such as dysfunctional voiding. In a study, the authors demonstrated that some urinary symptoms have a low correlation with more objective data.30 Therefore, additional exams should be requested, such as urine tests, ultrasound of the urinary tract, uroflowmetry, a bladder diary, and a bowel diary. The US should measure the post-void residual and the bladder wall thickness and evaluate the rectal distension .11 The PVR is different according to age. The PVR is considered high in children 46 years old if it is 30 mL or > 21% of bladder capacity, and in children 712 years old if it is 20 mL or > 15% bladder capacity.2

A patient with OAB has a bell-shaped or tower-shaped uroflowmetry curve, which suggests urinary urgency .1 A urodynamic study should be reserved for those cases where there is failure after treatment or for patients who have signs of non-neurogenic bladder or even myogenic failure.23,31

At What Age Should Children Be Able Control Their Bladder

Wetting in children under 3 years old is very common. Most children will be able to control their bladder after they turn 3, but this age can still vary. An OAB is often not diagnosed until a child is 5 or 6 years old. By the age of 5, of children are able to control their urine during the day. Your doctor may not diagnose nighttime urinary incontinence until your child is 7 years old.

Bed-wetting affects

Less commonly, your child may experience leakage, especially when active or when sneezing.

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What Causes Overactive Bladder

An overactive bladder can be caused by several things, or even a combination of causes. Some possible causes can include:

  • Weak pelvic muscles: Pregnancy and childbirth can cause your pelvic muscles to stretch and weaken. This can cause the bladder to sag out of its normal position. All of these factors can cause leakage.
  • Nerve damage: Sometimes signals are sent to the brain and bladder to empty at the wrong time. Trauma and diseases can cause this to happen. These can include:
  • Pelvic or back surgery.
  • Stroke.
  • Medications, alcohol and caffeine: All of these products can dull the nerves, which affects the signal to the brain. This could result in bladder overflow. Diuretics and caffeine can cause your bladder to fill rapidly and possibly leak.
  • Infection: An infection, like a urinary tract infection , can irritate the bladder nerves and cause the bladder to squeeze without warning.
  • Excess weight: Being overweight places extra pressure on your bladder. This can lead to urge incontinence.
  • Estrogen deficiency after menopause: This hormonal change could contribute to a loss of urine due to urgency. Ask your doctor if vaginal-only estrogen therapy is right for you. This is different from systemic hormone therapy, which is absorbed throughout the body.
  • Often, there may be no specific explanation for why this is occurring.

    What Additional Methods Can Be Used To Treat Bedwetting

    Health Facts About Overactive Bladder in Children

    In the vast majority of children, bedwetting improves on its own over time, so treatment is not needed. If bedwetting is a significant problem for a child, there are seevralk ways to apprioach bedwetting

    Cut back on their liquid intake well before bedtime, particularly anything that includes caffeine. Encourage your child to not only use the bathroom 15 minutes before bed, but again just before you tuck them in. Often times, they pee only enough so they no longer feel the urge and may not be emptying their bladder. Remove any sleep disrupters from their room, like pets or electronics.

    Another treatment for bedwetting is a moisture alarm. This device includes a water-sensitive pad with a wire connected to a control unit. When moisture is detected, an alarm sounds, waking the child. In some cases, another person may need to be in the room to waken the child if they do not do so on their own.

    Setting an alarm so the child wakes up to urinate – timed voiding – may also work to reduce bedwetting at night.

    If these methods aren’t working, medication Increasing levels of ADH might help treat nighttime incontinence. Desmopressin, or DDAVP, is a synthetic version of ADH. This drug, which is approved for use in children, comes in pills, nose drops, or nasal spray.

    In addition, the drug imipramine can be used. This medication affects the brain as well as the bladder. According to researchers, an estimated 70% of kids who wet the bed may be helped by the use of these drugs.

    Read Also: Heal Bladder Infection Without Antibiotics

    How Is Urinary Incontinence Diagnosed

    The first stage in diagnosis is where the doctor records a clinic history of when the leakage started and how often it happens. They will usually carry out a physical examination to see if the bladder feels hard because it is full of urine or if there are any signs of constipation. They may also carry out an ultrasound scan of the bladder and kidneys.

    Parents may find it helpful to keep a bladder diary for a few days there are lots of examples online but the basic information you should record is the volume of fluids drunk, the volume of wee passed as well as details of any accidents and what the child was doing at the time.

    Bladder function assessment may also be helpful this is a combination of tests that are used to examine the childs urinary system and how it is working in close detail. These tests are usually carried out over a period of up to five hours, involving using a special uroflow toilet, which takes lots of measurements as the child is weeing. Next, they will do an ultrasound scan of the childs bladder to see if it is empty or not. These two tests uroflow and bladder ultrasound are repeated two to three times to get a full picture of the childs weeing.

    Some children may benefit from having a micturating cystourethrogram , which is a scan that shows how well the childs bladder works. It is used to diagnose why the child may have urinary tract infections. It is also used to show up any abnormalities with the childs urinary system.

    What Are The Symptoms Of Overactive Bladder In Kids

    The most common symptoms associated with OAB in children:

    • A sudden, uncontrollable need to urinate
    • Having the urge to urinate without actually being able to urinate
    • Frequent daytime wetting after the age of 3
    • Frequent nighttime wetting after the age of 4
    • Rushing to the bathroom
    • Interrupted sleep
    • Frequent urinary tract infections

    Unfortunately, having OAB often impacts social and emotional development. Because the child may be trying hard to control the urge to urinate, and failing, physical complications may also develop:

    • An increased risk for urinary tract infections
    • An increased risk for kidney damage
    • Difficulty emptying the bladder completely

    Read Also: What To Drink To Help Bladder Infection

    Sitting On The Toilet Correctly

    Some boys will prefer to pass urine whilst standing others prefer to sit. It is important that boys have a wee in the position in which they are most comfortable.

    For girls, it is important to sit on the toilet in a position which will encourage complete emptying of the bladder. Girls should sit on the toilet with their legs wide apart.

    When sitting on the toilet it is very important that both feet are flat on the floor. If your child cannot reach the floor, it is important that they use a footstool or step.

    Can Overactive Bladder Be Controlled

    Living with Overactive Bladder (OAB) – Urology Care Foundation

    Overactive bladder therapy can be challenging to manage. However, many people are very satisfied with the treatment they receive and they often see a dramatic improvement in their quality of life. Your doctor will guide you to the best steps to begin with and give you options for any additional treatments you may need over time.

    Recommended Reading: How Fast Can A Bladder Infection Come On

    What To Do About Overactive Bladder In Children

    Talk to your doctor if you suspect your child has an overactive bladder. In many cases, the condition goes away on its own. If not, treatments and at-home measures can help your child overcome or manage this condition.

    Overactive bladder symptoms do not have to limit your activities or negatively impact your quality of life, says pediatric urologist Lynn Woo, MD, Chief of Pediatric Urology at UH Rainbow Babies & Childrens Hospital.

    It is important to rule out any underlying problems with the bowels or bladder first, but overactive bladder can be a very treatable condition, she says.

    Treatment options for overactive bladder include behavioral strategies as well as medications that regulate bladder function.

    Often, children with overactive bladder have underlying or unrecognized constipation and may need further evaluation by a gastroenterologist, who specializes in digestive health issues.

    Pediatric psychological support also can help children and adolescents cope with challenges of overactive bladder.

    Helping Your Child Cope With An Overactive Bladder

    May 24, 2021

    University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s

    When an overactive bladder keeps your child close to a bathroom, it can force him or her to limit activities making participation in school, sports and other social situations very difficult. But you can help your child take control of the situation.

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    Medication Adherence And Persistence

    Medication adherence and persistence are central to any treatment success, but literature pertaining to the pediatric population with OAB is lacking. Adherence is dreadful in adults taking antimuscarinic medications, with one recent study reporting adherence rates at 12 months of 35.8, 31.9, and 30.9% for fesoterodine, solifenacin, and tolterodine, respectively. In a study pending publication, our group noted a medication possession ratio over 80% in only 64% of children treated with antimuscarinics. Although this is better than what has been described in adults, strategies are required to increase adherence and, thus, improve treatment efficacy.

    Persistence to antimuscarinic agents is also appaling in adults, with Wagg et al showing that only 1435% of patients remained on their initial therapy at 12 months. Our group recently published a restrospective review of 374 children treated with antimuscarinics over a four-year period, at the end of which only 11.8% of patients were still taking an antimuscarinic medication. Even though a percentage of the children who discontinued their antimuscarinics might be attributable to the disappearance of OAB symptoms, persistence in children must be further investigated, as it definitely influences treatment success.

    What Causes Bladder And Voiding Problems In Children

    Pin on Gynaecology

    There are many causes of bladder and voiding problems in children. Although parents often worry that their childs problem will be due to an abnormality in the urinary or neurological systems , less than 1% of day-time wetting is due to an organic cause. For most children, the cause of their problem is functional rather than organic, that is, there is no underlying anatomical or neurological problem.

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    How Is Overactive Bladder Treated In Children

    In most cases, children outgrow the problem of an overactive bladder. For each year after the age of 5, the number of overactive bladder cases declines by 15%. The child may learn to respond in a more timely manner to the body’s signals to urinate or bladder capacity may increase over time. In addition, overactive bladders can “settle down,” often when stressful events or experiences have ended.

    If the child does not outgrow the condition, treatments can include bladder training and medication. In bladder training, the child uses exercises to strengthen and coordinate the urethra and bladder muscles to control urination. Such exercises teach the child to prevent urinating when away from the toilet and to anticipate the urge to urinate. Additional techniques to help overactive bladder include:

    • avoiding caffeine or other ingredients that may encourage overactive bladder
    • using timed voiding, or urinating on a schedule — for example, every two hours
    • adopting healthy urination habits, such as taking enough time to urinate and relaxing muscles during urination

    What Can My Child Do To Help Them Improve And What Can I Do To Help My Child Improve

    There are many things that you and your child can do to help improve their symptoms. First, though, it is essential that your child is motivated cooperation is essential. Secondly, your child has full support from you and other significant people in their lives . Thirdly, you and your child will need to be patient success will not come overnight but instead will take many months of hard work.

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    Will Surgery Be Needed

    In most cases where the bladder problem is functional, surgery is not needed. Occasionally. though, an organic, anatomical, problem is found that is causing the bladder or voiding problem and for which an operation can be performed. If your child needs an operation, this will be fully explained to you. Specific leaflets are available about the different types of surgery.

    Where Can I Get Help

    Overactive Bladder, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

    If you are under the age of 16 the first thing you should do is discuss your concerns with a parent or guardian. If you feel unable to do this then maybe youd feel comfortable talking to your school nurse. We also have an information sheet called Love Your Gusset which covers SUI for women and teenagers.

    If you are over 16 years of age or you are a parent or guardian concerned for a child, the first thing you should do is see your GP for an assessment of the symptoms, or if you prefer you can also self-refer to an NHS continence clinic.

    Read Also: Difference Between Bladder And Urinary Tract Infection

    How Is Enuresis Diagnosed In A Child

    Many children may have enuresis from time to time. It can take some children longer than others to learn to control their bladder. Girls often have bladder control before boys. Because of this, enuresis is diagnosed in girls earlier than in boys. Girls may be diagnosed as young as age 5. Boys are not diagnosed until at least age 6.

    Your childs healthcare provider will ask about your childs health history. Tell the healthcare provider:

    • If other family members have had enuresis

    • How often your child urinates during the day

    • How much your child drinks in the evening

    • If your child has symptoms such as pain or burning when urinating

    • If the urine is dark or cloudy or has blood in it

    • If your child is constipated

    • If your child has had recent stress in his or her life

    The healthcare provider may give your child a physical exam. Your child may also need tests, such as urine tests or blood tests. These are done to look for a health problem, such as an infection or diabetes.

    What Causes Overactive Bladder In Children

    Children with overactive bladders have a need to urinate more often than usual because their bladder muscles have uncontrollable spasms. The muscles surrounding the urethra — the tube from the bladder that urine passes through — can be affected. These muscles are meant to prevent urine from leaving the body, but they may be “overridden” if the bladder undergoes a strong contraction.

    Urinary tract infections can cause a need to urinate as the urinary tract becomes inflamed and uncomfortable. Certain neurological conditions may cause these symptoms.

    Another cause of overactive bladder is a condition called pollakiuria, or frequent daytime urination syndrome. Children who have pollakiuria urinate frequently. In some cases, they may urinate every five to 10 minutes or urinate between 10 and 30 times a day. This condition is most common among children aged 3 to 8 and is present only during waking hours. There are no other symptoms present. Doctors believe that pollakiuria is related to stress. Usually, the condition goes away after two to three weeks without requiring treatment.

    Other causes of overactive bladder in children include:

    • consumption of caffeine, which increases urine output and can cause spasms in the bladder muscle
    • consumption of ingredients that a child may be allergic to
    • events that cause anxiety
    • refraining from completely emptying the bladder when on the toilet
    • obstructive slep apnea

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    Symptoms/frequency Characteristics Of Pollakiuria:

  • A previously toilet trained child suddenly develops frequent daytime urination that may occur as often as every 5-10 minutes. Usually the child urinates 3-4 times per hour, often up to 40 times per day.
  • The child has no pain with urination.
  • The child only urinates small amounts of urine at a time.
  • There is no incontinence .
  • The child does not drink excessive amounts of fluids.
  • The child may urinate at night but not to the extent of the daytime frequency.
  • There are no changes in bowel behavior.
  • There is no evidence of infection or any physical cause.
  • Typically occurs in school-age children.
  • There may be recurrent cycles over a period of 1-2 years.
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