HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD COPE WITH URINARY INCONTINENCE? EXPERT ADVICE

Urinary incontinence in children is a delicate problem that can cause embarrassment, anxiety and even affect self-esteem. How should parents respond to the situation? What methods of treatment exist? And is it possible to prevent this problem?

These questions are answered by the Head of the Urodynamics and Neurourology group in the  N. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology (SRIUIR) – the branch of the FSBI “National Medical Research Radiological Centre” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Candidate of Medical Sciences – Victoria Romikh.

When it is worth to consult a doctor?

If the child has congenital diseases or anomalies, he is usually already under the care of specialists, including urologists. In other cases, the reason to consult a doctor may be the persistence of urinary incontinence in a child over 5 years of age, as well as pain in the bladder and urethra, frequent daytime urination or incontinence, changes in urine tests.

How can parents help their child?

Here everything is quite obvious: it is important to observe the child carefully, pay attention to the rhythm of urination, frequency of stools, avoid eating unhealthy foods and correctly distribute the drinking regime during the day. If there are questions or doubts, it is better to consult a doctor.

What treatments are available?

There are several lines of therapy. The first includes behavioral therapy, physical therapy and biofeedback training. The second line is medication, and the third line is minimally invasive methods such as botulinum therapy, which relaxes the muscle structures of the bladder. Surgical intervention is used only in the presence of structural abnormalities or fistulas.

How to react to the problem so as not to harm the child?

The main thing is to remain calm. Do not be frightened, do not swear, do not get upset. Modern medicine offers many solutions. For example, the method of BOS takes place in a playful form with watching cartoons, which makes the process less stressful for the child. The most important thing is to contact a specialist and prepare your child for a trip to the clinic.

Can urinary incontinence be prevented?

Prevention lies in the correct education of the child: observing the daily routine, developing a healthy rhythm of urination, teaching basic hygiene skills, regular stools, a proper drinking regimen and limiting the evening consumption of thirsty foods.

Urinary incontinence is not a verdict. It is important to remember that timely diagnosis and the right approach of parents can help the child to cope with this problem without unnecessary stress. If you are worried about something, do not delay a visit to the doctor, make an appointment with the specialists of the the N. Lopatkin Scientific Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology by phone: +7 (499) 110-40-67.