Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Daytime Frequency of Urination
DESCRIPTION
- Your child suddenly starts urinating every 10 to
30 minutes and as often as 30 to 40 times a day.
- Your child passes small amounts of urine each time.
- Your child has no pain with urination.
- Your child does not wet himself during the day.
- Your child does not drink excessive amounts of fluids.
- Your child has been toilet trained.
- The urinary frequency is not a problem during sleep.
Daytime frequency of urination occurs most often when a
child is 4 to 5 years old.
CAUSE
Frequent urination usually reflects emotional tension. It
means your child is under pressure. The symptom is
involuntary, not deliberate. The urinary frequency usually
begins within 1 or 2 days of a stressful event. You can
make the problem worse by worrying about disease.
Punishment, criticism, or teasing also worsens the symptom.
Although physical causes are rare, your child should be
examined by a physician. The only test that is usually
needed is a check of the urine. No special x-rays are
needed.
EXPECTED OUTCOME
Overall, this is a harmless condition that eventually goes
away by itself. If you can identify and deal with whatever
is stressing your child, his frequent urination will
disappear in 1 to 4 weeks. Without treatment, the symptom
usually gets better on its own in 2 or 3 months.
A few children who also have small bladders and problems
with bedwetting may have this symptom more than once.
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD OVERCOME URINARY FREQUENCY
- Reassure your child that he is physically healthy.
Tell your child that his body, kidneys, urine, and any
other aspect of his health that he is worried about are
fine. Because the family (and also possibly physicians)
have been concerned about the child's bladder and urine,
he may fear there is something wrong with his urinary
tract. Reassure him once or twice that he is quite
healthy.
- Reassure your child that he can learn to wait longer to
urinate.
Reassure him that he won't wet himself, which is a
common fear. If he has wet himself before, encourage
him to talk about his embarrassment and reassure him it
happens sometimes to many children. Tell him that he
will gradually get back to urinating every 2 to 3 hours,
or whatever his previous pattern was. If his frequency
of urination has gotten worse during shopping trips or
travel in general, don't take him with you to public
places for a while.
- Help your child relax.
Frequency of urination can be a barometer of inner
tension. Make sure your child has free time and fun
time every day. If he is over-scheduled with
activities, try to lighten the commitments. Relaxation
exercises may help your child if he is over 8 years old.
Increasing the happiness and harmony within your home
will usually restore your child's sense of security.
Ask the staff at your child's school or day care to help
reduce any tensions there, such as limits on when a
child can use the bathroom.
- Try to figure out what is stressing your child.
Meet with other family members and try to think of a
stressful event that may have occurred 1 or 2 days
before the frequency began. Also ask school or day care
staff for ideas. Talk about your ideas with your child
and try to help him overcome the stress. Common
stressful events are:
- death in the family
- accident or other life-threatening event
- tension in the marriage
- a sick parent or sibling
- school entry or a new school
- too much concern about staying dry at night
- wetting himself in the presence of peers.
- Ignore the symptom of frequency.
When your child is using the toilet frequently, don't
comment on it. Comments remind him that the symptom is
worrying you. Stop keeping any record of amount or
frequency of urination. Do not collect any urine
samples or measure volumes. Don't ask your child about
his symptom or watch him urinate. Do not have your
child do bladder-stretching exercises. Your child does
not need to tell you when he has urinated; you will have
a general impression about whether he is getting better
or staying the same.
Be sure that none of your child's caretakers or teachers
is punishing or criticizing him about this symptom.
Stop all family conversation about the frequency. The
less said about it, the less anxious your child will be
about it. If your child brings up the topic, reassure
him that he will gradually get better.
- Avoid bubble bath and other irritants.
Bubble bath can cause frequent urination in children,
especially girls. Bubble bath can irritate the opening
of the urinary tract. Taking a bath in water that
contains hair shampoo can also cause similar symptoms.
In addition, before puberty, be sure your child washes
the genital area with water, not soap.
CALL YOUR CHILD'S PHYSICIAN DURING OFFICE HOURS IF:
- The frequency of urination is not back to normal after
you have followed these recommendations for 1 month.
- Your child begins to have pain or burning when urinating.
- Your child begins to wet himself during the day.
- Your child begins to drink excessive amounts of fluids.
- You have other questions or concerns.
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