Patient's question:
I don't know what's going on, but my child has been misbehaving and crying non-stop lately. Even the hospital check-up didn't help. How can I deal with frequent nighttime urination in children?Doctor's answer:
General preschool and school-aged children urinate 6 to 7 times daily. If the frequency of urination is excessive, it is considered urinary frequency. There are many reasons for urinary frequency, and a comprehensive analysis should be conducted based on specific symptoms and laboratory tests to identify the cause. Common causes include:1. Urethral and Seasonal Factors: If urinary frequency occurs with small amounts of urine each time, no pain expression during urination, and no other symptoms, local factors should be considered first, such as urethral inflammation, phimosis, or pinworm irritation in the genital area. Additionally, seasonal factors; frequent urination in winter is a normal phenomenon.
2. Dietary Polyuria: If urinary frequency is accompanied by large amounts of urine each time without other symptoms, it is important to consider excessive fluid intake, especially in children who prefer sugary drinks.
3. Neurogenic Polyuria: In young children with underdeveloped bladder detrusor muscles and immature nerves, daytime dribbling polyuria may occur, reaching 20 to 30 times, but nighttime urination is normal. This condition tends to recur, and urine tests are normal, indicating it is not caused by inflammation.
4. Urinary Tract Infections: If urinary frequency is accompanied by urgency, pain, or fever, urinary tract infections such as cystitis or pyelonephritis should be considered. Urinalysis under a microscope may reveal pus cells or a large number of white blood cells. In severe cases, systemic infection and toxicity symptoms may occur.
5. Special Diseases: If urinary frequency is accompanied by large amounts of urine, excessive thirst, increased appetite, and weight loss, it is important to examine the urine. If sugar is detected in the urine, diabetes should be considered. If the urine is sugar-free but has low specific gravity, diabetes insipidus should be suspected.
It is best to seek professional medical advice at a regular hospital to identify the cause and receive targeted treatment. Additionally, it is important to maintain good local hygiene and bathe and change clothes frequently.