Urinary Incontinence in Children
DEFINITION
Urinary incontinence, or ‘wetting’ is a common concern during childhood. Urinary incontinence can be further considered in a number of ways, including;
Primary: a child who has never been ‘dry’
Secondary: a child who was continent, or toilet trained for at least 3 months before the onset of urinary incontinence
Mono-symptomatic: when the incontinence is the only symptom, usually at night (monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis, or ‘bed wetting’)
Non-monosymptomatic: when there are other symptoms present such as pain, frequent toilet trips, or urgency.
It is normal for children to acquire both day time, and night time urinary continence at different ages, and no two children are ever the same. Girls will usually toilet trained earlier than boys, and a delay in becoming dry overnight can run in families.
It is common for children to have troubles with their bladder and their bowel simultaneously.
There are many causes of wetting, and it is very rare for the underlying issue to be serious or dangerous.
It is the role of a paediatric urologist to determine if the wetting is abnormal in it’s timing or associated features, if there are any underlying causes for the symptoms, and what behavioural, medical, and surgical management options may help.
OUR APPROACH
Dr Rob is a specialist in the management of both bladder and bowel symptoms, and is one of very few Australian trained paediatric surgeons with overseas specialist fellowship experience in both paediatric urology and paediatric colorectal surgery.
You and your child will be invited to a longer consult to allow for a comprehensive history, examination and discussion. If your child has had a urine analysis, and/or kidney ultrasound performed, please be sure to bring these results to your appointment.
It is ideal to complete a fluid intake/bladder/bowel diary prior to your arrival. You will find a link here to a suggested template, but you are welcome to make your own. If you do not have an opportunity to fill one out, do not worry as there is still a lot that can be determined without it.
Rest assured it is common to need some more tests and minor procedures, and uncommon to need complicated surgical interventions.
USEFUL RESOURCES