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Suggest Remedy For In Voiding Dysfunction In A Child

Posted on Thu, 19 Mar 2015

Question: My granddaughter is between 3-4 years old and she and my daughter live with my husband and me. She has always been fine going to the bathroom since she has been potty trained. But in the last couple weeks, she has peed at school twice and just pooped in her pants after already going to the toilet a half hour earlier. About 3 months ago she was in a wonderful at-home daycare with a very experienced and loving woman. The woman retired and so she is going to a large daycare at a school. She has been taking gymnastics and ballet 2x a week in the last month because the classes overlapped. Last week and this week she said she didn't want to go on the night she was scheduled to go. She said she was tired of going. My daugther called the dr and he said she doesn't have any symptoms of a bladder infection. Do you think this is an emotional/stressed reaction to changes and whether she likes school or too much activity? If so, what can a grandma do w/o interfering?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (9 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Seems like voiding dysfucntion

Detailed Answer:
Hi...by what you quote I feel that this could be a voiding dysfunction.

In voiding dysfunction - due to various reasons - kids tend to hold back urine and when it comes forcibly they cannot control it and they tend to lose the bladder control. They go to urination too very urgently and if they cannot reach the toilet in time, they tend to release the urine involuntarily.

What you can do -
1. Get an ultra sound abdomen done - this is to see if the bladder wall is thickened.
2. Train her with these points -
- She should never hold back the urine.
- She should take permission and empty the bladder immediately she gets a feel of it.
- She should drink plenty of oral fluids till 1 hours before she goes to bed.
- No fluids about 1 hour before she goes to bed.
- She needs to empty the bladder twice before she goes to bed.
- Praise her if she has good bladder control for 24 hours consistently and encourage her.
- Do not reprimand her or compare her with other kids.

Hope my answer was helpful for you. I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.
Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (42 hours later)

So you don't think it is a reaction to all the changes and/or stresses recently in her life?

Answered by Dr. Sumanth Amperayani (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Voiding dysfunction can be caused by stress

Detailed Answer:
Hi...Voiding dysfunction can be caused by stress/ emotional issues. Even then the approach and management remains the same.

I suggest you try to talk to her regarding the events which are creating stress or fear in her and that will help in identifying the reason for this holding back of urine.

Regards - Dr. Sumanth

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar