Overactive Bladder in Children and Young People

Symptoms of an overactive bladder in children typically include:

• frequent urination, typically more than once every 2 hours or more than 8 times a day, that interrupts regular activities

• urgent need to urinate during the day and anxiety to find or be near a toilet at all times

• frequent urination at night or delayed nighttime bladder control (nocturnal enuresis)

• passing small amounts of urine at a time

• discomfort or straining during urination

• urine leakage between bathroom visits

• struggling to completely empty the bladder

There’s not always an underlying cause of an overactive bladder, and in many children, the condition improves with age. Underlying causes may include:

• urinary tract infections (UTIs)

• problems with the bladder muscles (bladder muscle dysfunction)

• neurological conditions

• constipation

• stress, anxiety, or trauma

• behavioural problems or poor habits (for example, infrequent use of the toilet due to having too much fun or being too busy to go to the bathroom, poor toileting habits, holding on by squatting or crossing the legs or holding their genitalia)

• stress incontinence (leaking when coughing, for example)

• psychological or emotional stress (caused by a change of school, for example)

• congenital conditions of the renal tract

• conditions affecting the brain or spinal cord, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida, that can affect the nerves that control bladder function

• genetic diseases can affect the urinary tract

Our paediatric urology team will work to understand your child’s medical history and specific symptoms of an overactive bladder. This may involve asking you to help your child keep a diary of symptoms to help identify patterns and triggers. Your consultant will also ask if they can carry out a physical examination of your child’s abdomen and genitals. A range of other diagnostic tests may be used to assess underlying conditions.

Other tests may include:

• urinalysis to check the urine for signs of infection and other issues

• urine sample collection for laboratory testing

• urinary flow test

• behavioural and physiological assessment

• bladder ultrasound

• blood tests

• CT or MRI scans

In more complex cases, other diagnostic tests may be used, including:

• urodynamic testing to assess how the bladder and urethra are functioning

• electromyography (EMG) to measure the electrical activity of the pelvic floor muscles

• using a camera to look inside the bladder (flexible cystoscopy)

At Welbeck, our leading paediatric urologists use the latest innovations in healthcare to accurately diagnose and treat overactive bladder in our world-class outpatient clinic. Your child will receive the best possible care in a welcoming and supportive environment where you both feel supported and listened to.

With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure your child receives the best possible treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your child’s health is of utmost importance to us, so we strive to offer same-day and next-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance for your child, their treatment at Welbeck can begin once your provider has confirmed authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.