Frequent urination in children is a fairly common disorder that usually signals health problems. Therefore, to ignore such a symptom is not worth it.
general information
A child is not an adult. The main functions of the systems of internal organs are significantly different. What is usually the norm for an adult can be a pathology for a child. Anatomically and functionally, the kidneys of a child and adult body have many differences. The younger the child, the more this difference is traced. By the time the crumbs are born, its excretory system is not yet fully formed.
The kidneys are a serious mechanism. Through these organs, the urinary system balances the fluid and minerals in the body, removes end metabolic products and foreign chemical compounds from the blood. In addition, the kidneys are actively involved in maintaining normal blood pressure, glucose formation and in regulating bone marrow production of red bodies.
The urinary system of a small child runs to the limit of its capabilities. Against the background of complete health, the kidneys cope with their direct duties, but with minor failures, violations are possible.
Urination rate in children of different ages
Features of the structure and functioning of the urinary system in young children determine the frequency of urination depending on age. For example, babies usually need about 25 diapers per day. An exception are children in the first week of life. Their urination frequency is negligible - no more than 5 times a day. This is due to high fluid loss and insufficient intake of breast milk. By 12 months, the baby begins to urinate about 15-17 times a day. With age, urination usually decreases. At three years old, children go to the toilet no more than eight times a day, and at nine years old - about six times. Teenagers urinate no more than five times a day.
Everything that exceeds the listed indicators can be considered frequent urination. However, slight deviations from the norm are always allowed. If a child of six years old urinates 6 times today and tomorrow 9, there is no reason to panic. It is necessary to analyze the possible changes in the life of the baby. For example, after eating fruit, urination may increase without any pathology. On the other hand, a change in these indicators often indicates health problems. Next, we consider the main causes of frequent urination in children without pain.
What is physiological pollakiuria?
Causes of frequent urination can be harmless and not associated with disease. In this case, usually mean physiological pollakiuria. Its development is due to the following factors.
- Drinking fluid in large volumes. When a child drinks a lot, urge to the toilet becomes more frequent. Parents should pay attention to the causes of increased fluid intake. It is one thing if in a family a child is accustomed to drink mineral water every day or feels thirst on the background of hot weather, as well as after exercise. If a baby constantly asks for water for a reason and pisses a lot, this can signal a disease such as diabetes.
- Taking medications with a pronounced diuretic effect. These include diuretics, antiemetic and antihistamines.
- Hypothermia. Frequent urination in a child without pain is accompanied by a reflex spasm of the kidney vessels. After warming, pollakiuria is stopped.
- The use of products with a diuretic effect (lingonberries, watermelon, cucumbers, green tea). Most of them contain a large amount of water, so the number of trips to the toilet increases.
- Frequent urination in a child of 4 years is possible due to stress and overexcitation. Against their background, adrenaline is released in the body, which affects the excitability of the bladder and excretion of the liquid itself. Therefore, the child often visits the toilet, but urinates in small portions. This is a temporary condition that goes away on its own.
Physiological pollakiuria is completely safe and does not require specific treatment. Urination returns to normal after eliminating the provoking factor.
Not always parents can independently determine the cause of such a disorder. In some cases, frequent urination in a child without pain is a symptom of a serious illness. These can be psychosomatic disorders, pathologies of the endocrine and nervous systems. The disorder is usually accompanied by fever, excessive sweating, and refusal to eat. Consider the main diseases in which there is frequent urination, in more detail.
Pathology of the endocrine system
Frequent urination in a child without pain can be a symptom of diabetes, both sugar and non-sugar.
In the first case, the disease develops due to impaired glucose uptake, which does not reach the cells in full. Its primary signs are constant thirst and excessive appetite. In addition, in children there is an inflammatory and purulent lesion of the skin, eye area.
Diabetes insipidus occurs against the background of dysfunction of the hypothalamus, which is responsible for the production of the hormone vasopressin. It provides reverse absorption of water during blood filtration through the kidneys. Frequent urination in a child 3 years of age and older may be due to a deficiency of this hormone.
Bladder dysfunction
Neurogenic bladder is a pathology in which a violation of the functioning of this organ is noted. It develops due to the slow maturation of the nerve centers, which are responsible for the proper functioning of the bladder. Frequent urination in a child without pain is the main symptom of neurogenic dysfunction. Its manifestation may intensify against a background of stress or colds.
Neuroses and psychosomatic disorders
As noted above, stress and overexcitation often provoke frequent urination in children. The causes of this disorder can also be hidden in neurasthenia and various psychosomatic conditions. Physiological pollakiuria against the background of stress is a temporary phenomenon, the duration of which should not exceed 10 hours. In the case of a pathology of a psychosomatic nature, symptoms are observed constantly, but they can be less pronounced and supplemented by mood swings, aggressiveness.
CNS pathology
The bladder is emptied each time with the help of impulses that come from the brain through the spinal cord. If the chain breaks, spontaneous urination is observed. This happens every time a bubble is filled. As a result, parents notice frequent urination. In a 5-year-old child, this is possible with injuries, inflammatory and degenerative diseases, brain tumors.
External bladder pressure
With a decrease in the size of the bladder, there is a need for more frequent emptying, i.e. pollakiuria. In addition to abnormal development, external pressure can lead to this disorder (pregnancy in girls in adolescence, tumors in the pelvis, etc.).
Examination to confirm the diagnosis
To detect the presence of a disease, it is necessary to do a urinalysis. It is not recommended to collect it in the evening hours. Also, do not store the liquid in the refrigerator for more than 12 hours, as the results of the analysis may be incorrect.
If a large number of germs are found in the urine during the diagnostic process, an additional study will be required to determine the sensitivity to antibiotics. An ultrasound is prescribed to identify signs of inflammation or an abnormal structure of the bladder. A blood test is necessary to study hormones, evaluate the functioning of the kidneys and determine the glucose content. Sometimes consultation of narrow specialists (nephrologist, endocrinologist) is required.
Treatment options
Based on the results of the examination, the doctor can determine what causes frequent urination in children, the causes of the pathological disorder. After this, the pediatrician prescribes the appropriate treatment.
In physiological pollakiuria, specific therapy is not used. All other reasons require treatment in a hospital, where it is possible to fully diagnose diseases and monitor the condition of the child around the clock.
The course of therapy is prescribed in accordance with the diagnosis, since pathological pollakiuria cannot be overcome without affecting the main disease. The selection of specific drugs is up to the doctor. The range of means used with frequent urination in children is very wide. For example, sedatives are prescribed for neuroses, insulin is required for the treatment of diabetes. In case of a malfunction of the central nervous system, surgical intervention may be required.
Parents should understand that pollakiuria is a rather serious disorder caused by dangerous diseases. If the child's temperature and frequent urination persist for several hours, it is necessary to call a team of medical workers. Self-treatment of such a pathology is not recommended.
Preventive measures
Of course, it is impossible to insure a child from diseases of the urinary system. However, a number of preventive measures allow timely detection of pathology and prevent the occurrence of unpleasant complications.
- Be extremely attentive to the condition of the child and possible manifestations of the disease.
- Do not neglect the planned visits to the doctor. Children should be examined by a pediatrician every six months, every three months, every three months, after four every six months.
- Make sure that the child does not catch a cold, forbid him to sit on cold benches and damp ground.
- Pediatricians recommend feeding the baby as long as possible with breast milk. The urine of such children is contained in large quantities of immunoglobulin A, which protects against various infections.
- Do not try to find out on your own what may cause frequent urination in children. Treatment and a comprehensive examination can only be prescribed by a doctor.
Parents should constantly monitor how often the child goes to the toilet. For any deviations from the norm, you should contact your pediatrician. It is better to consult a doctor once again and protect the child's body from possible complications.