Overactive Bladder in Children and Young People
At Welbeck, we treat children with an overactive bladder to reduce their symptoms of urgent and frequent urination, improve their quality of life, and boost their confidence.
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What is an overactive bladder?
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition that causes children to feel the need to urinate frequently and suddenly. It can lead to daytime accidents and bedwetting at night, which can cause anxiety and embarrassment, impacting a young person's social life, school experience and confidence.
There may not always be an underlying cause of an overactive bladder, and in many children, the condition improves with age. However, we always recommend seeing a specialist if your child has symptoms of an overactive bladder, as treatments are available to improve their condition and boost their confidence.
At Welbeck, our consultants currently diagnose and treat overactive bladder in children and young people aged 12 to 18.
What is the bladder, and how does it work?
The bladder, along with the kidneys, ureters and urethra, is a part of the body’s urinary system. Each part of the urinary system has an important role. The job of the bladder is to store urine, and its muscles work to empty the urine.
The important muscles that relate to the bladder are the detrusor muscles in the bladder wall, and the sphincter, which is a ring of muscle at the junction of the bladder and urethra, which stops urine leaking.
The bladder is like a balloon inside your body that fills with and stores urine. The bladder should stretch easily as it fills with urine and should not contract or get increased pressure inside as it fills. As your child ages, their bladder increases in size and capacity, meaning they need to urinate less often.
What are the symptoms of an overactive bladder?
Symptoms of an overactive bladder in children typically include:
frequent urination, typically more than once every 2 hours or more than 8 times a day, that interrupts regular activities
urgent need to urinate during the day and anxiety to find or be near a toilet at all times
frequent urination at night or delayed nighttime bladder control (nocturnal enuresis)
passing small amounts of urine at a time
discomfort or straining during urination
urine leakage between bathroom visits
struggling to completely empty the bladder
What are the causes of an overactive bladder?
There’s not always an underlying cause of an overactive bladder, and in many children, the condition improves with age.
Underlying causes may include:
problems with the bladder muscles (bladder muscle dysfunction)
neurological conditions
stress, anxiety, or trauma
behavioural problems or poor habits (for example, infrequent use of the toilet due to having too much fun or being too busy to go to the bathroom, poor toileting habits, holding on by squatting or crossing the legs or holding their genitalia)
stress incontinence (leaking when coughing, for example)
psychological or emotional stress (caused by a change of school, for example)
congenital conditions of the renal tract
conditions affecting the brain or spinal cord, such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida, that can affect the nerves that control bladder function
genetic diseases can affect the urinary tract
How is an overactive bladder diagnosed at Welbeck?
Our paediatric urology team will work to understand your child’s medical history and specific symptoms of an overactive bladder. This may involve asking you to help your child keep a diary of symptoms to help identify patterns and triggers. Your consultant will also ask if they can carry out a physical examination of your child’s abdomen and genitals. A range of other diagnostic tests may be used to assess underlying conditions.
Other tests may include:
urinalysis to check the urine for signs of infection and other issues
urine sample collection for laboratory testing
urinary flow test
behavioural and physiological assessment
bladder ultrasound
blood tests
In more complex cases, other diagnostic tests may be used, including:
urodynamic testing to assess how the bladder and urethra are functioning
electromyography (EMG) to measure the electrical activity of the pelvic floor muscles
using a camera to look inside the bladder (flexible cystoscopy)
How is an overactive bladder treated at Welbeck?
In most children, the problem of an overactive bladder improves with age as children learn to respond more quickly to their body’s signals and their bladder capacity increases. Any treatment required will depend on the underlying cause of the issue, as determined by our specialists.
Possible treatments include:
behavioural and lifestyle modifications such as toilet schedules, bedtime routines, and constipation management
counselling to help with any stress, anxiety or trauma
medications to relax the bladder or help with constipation
physical therapy to improve muscle control
nerve stimulation therapy
support and advice for family members
Why choose Welbeck?
At Welbeck, our leading paediatric urologists use the latest innovations in healthcare to accurately diagnose and treat overactive bladder in our world-class outpatient clinic. Your child will receive the best possible care in a welcoming and supportive environment where you both feel supported and listened to.
With access to colleagues across other specialities, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if needed to ensure your child receives the best possible treatment as quickly as possible, all under one roof.
All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.
Book a private consultation
Your child’s health is of utmost importance to us, so we strive to offer same-day and next-day appointments whenever possible.
Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance for your child, their treatment at Welbeck can begin once your provider has confirmed authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.
FAQs
When should I be concerned about an overactive bladder?
If your child is urinating more than 8 times a day, is experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, or has an overactive bladder at night, it’s important to seek medical advice.
Can stress cause an overactive bladder in children?
Yes, stress and anxiety can contribute to overactive bladder symptoms in children. Emotional factors like starting school, family changes, or bullying can affect bladder control and increase the frequency of accidents. If stress is found to be a cause or contributing factor for your child, our paediatric team are here to provide support.
How can I help my child with an overactive bladder?
An overactive bladder can cause children distress and interrupt their daily activities. You can help by:
encouraging regular bathroom visits with ‘timed toileting’ every 2 to 3 hours during the day, rather than just when the sensation to urinate is felt
establishing a consistent bedtime routine with a trip to the bathroom just before bed
making sure they’re drinking 6 to 8 glasses of fluids per day (water is best)
restricting drinks that can irritate the bladder, such as those containing caffeine or artificial sweeteners, carbonated drinks and drinks that contain blackcurrant juice
encouraging them to eat a healthy, balanced diet
teaching them good hygiene - your child should wash around their genitals every day, avoid perfumed soaps and shower gels that can irritate the area, and should use their own towel. After using the toilet it’s essential, especially in girls, that genitalia are wiped from front to back to prevent transferring bacteria from the back passage (anus) to the urethra
avoiding too much fluid intake one to two hours before bedtime
teaching them how to use the toilet correctly - some boys will prefer to urinate standing, others prefer to sit. It’s important that boys use the toilet in the way that’s most comfortable for them
offering reassurance to your child
keeping a diary of bladder activity, which can be brought to consultations