Frequent Urination (Pollakiuria) In Kids: Symptoms & Treatment
The feeling of frequent urination in kids is known as pollakiuria. It is a sensory emergency of peeing without the physical need to pass urine. The child might feel to urinate at the earliest but pass only a small amount of urine every time they feel urinary urgency (1). This condition is usually self-limited and benign. They last for about a few weeks or months (2). However, in some children, pollakiuria might last for comparatively long periods. Read on to know more about pollakiuria, its symptoms, causes, treatment, and ways to manage this condition.
There are no hard and fast rules on the number of times a child can urinate in a day. However, it would be safe to say that a visit to the washroom every two hours is normal.
Sometimes, the child may urinate more often if they have taken more fluids, if the weather is cold, or just for fun (younger children).
Frequent urination generally occurs in children between 4 and 5 years despite them being toilet-trained (1).
The cause of frequent daytime urination is not exactly known. There is rarely any physical cause associated with this condition (3). Experts believe that it may be related to psychological or psychogenici Arising from the mind or mental or emotional tension factors. In certain cases, stress or problems related to school, home, or family may be the triggering factors in children (2).
The triggering or precipitating factors may include the following (2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
Dietary factors such as excessive intake of milk or caffeine
Often, no obvious triggering factor can be identified in children with this condition.
The signs and symptoms of pollakiuria may include the following ( 4, 7)
A mom blogger, who goes by the name ‘the alabaster mom,’ shares the symptoms her daughter’s experienced, “My kid got sick during Easter weekend and developed a significant fever. We took her to the doctor on Monday. I was very concerned about a possible kidney infection. She has been peeing very frequently (and when I say frequently, sometimes it’s as little as fifteen minutes from her last trip to the loo). It’s not constant (seems to come and go), but it has been worrisome all the same. We were told that it is probably something called pollakiuria. The doctor gave us a handout on the topic. Honestly, the symptoms fit A ( her daughter) to a tee: extremely frequent urination but without pain or burning, happens mostly in girls in preschool and kindergarten and typically goes away on its own after 6-8 weeks (i).” If you suspect that your child has pollakiuria, it’s important to seek medical guidance.
Pollakiuria is a benign condition. Therefore, healthcare practitioners may not opt for invasive examinations if the urinalysis report and physical examination results are normal.
Doctors usually examine the medical history and perform a physical examination (1). In addition, doctors distinguish frequent daytime urination (pollakiuria) from diuresis or polyuria (excessive production or passage of urine) due to metabolic disorders such as diabetes insipidusiA rare disorder that creates a fluid imbalance in the body due to overproduction of urine and diabetes mellitusi A condition characterized by high blood sugar levels (2).
Doctors may suggest the following laboratory or clinical evaluations (1, 4).
Once the doctor has performed the initial examination of your child and identified the triggering factor(s) for pollakiuria, the required therapy or management options can be discussed. Usually, children may not need medication for this condition.
Management of frequent daytime urination may involve the following ( 6, 7).
Besides, if emotional or stress-related triggers are identified as the probable causes, children should be encouraged to talk to their parents or undergo counseling.
Do not get annoyed at your child over the frequency of urination. Be mindful of their feelings or emotional distress. You can also assure your child that waiting a bit longer to use the washroom will not cause any mishappening.
Ignoring the frequency of urination increases may increase the chances of its disappearance (7).
If you notice any unusual increase in the frequency of urination in your child, make sure to visit a healthcare practitioner for the correct diagnosis.
In general, your child may not require drug management for this condition. You can help your child manage and cope with this condition, with these tips (3).
There aren’t any complications associated with this condition. However, if your child experiences symptoms such as pain, difficulty in urinating, loss of bladder control (leaking or bedwetting), or a sudden increase in thirst, then make sure to visit your doctor.
Frequent daytime urination or pollakiuria in children may resolve in a few weeks or months. However, it may also recur in months or years. In most of the cases, children may not require any medications. If the triggers are emotional or stress-related, try to make your child comfortable and talk about any issues, problems, or fears with them.
Pollakiuria (frequent, abnormal urination) in children may have recurrent episodes for over a period of one to two years (7).
1. Does anxiety cause frequent urination in children?
Yes. Anxiety, in particular generalized anxiety disorder, is a risk factor for urinary incontinence and frequent urination in children (8).
2. How can I tell if my child has a UTI?
UTI can be suspected if your child has frequent urination or urges to urinate, fever, urinary incontinence, painful urination, chills, fatigue, backache, and foul-smelling urine (9).
3. Can constipation cause frequent urination in children?
Yes. If your child has chronic constipation, they may have decreased bladder capacity due to the enlarged rectum, causing them to urinate more frequently than usual (10).
4. Can dehydration cause UTI?
According to the results of a study on the relationship between hydration and UTI, dehydration may not directly cause UTI, but it may increase the risk of infection (11).
Frequent urination in kids, also known as pollakiuria, usually tends to resolve in a few weeks or months. However, there is no guarantee that it will not recur in months or years. In most cases, children may not require any medical attention as such. But if you begin to feel that the triggers are emotional or stress-related, you must try talking to your child about it and pay maximum attention to help them deal with their problems or fears.
Frequent daytime urination in children may occur without definitive causes. However, most of them have triggering factors or conditions. Most cases are resolved within a few weeks or months with proper care. Go through the infographic to know the triggers for pollakiuria in children.