Urology Problems in Children

The most common urology problems in children that people are aware of are urinary tract infections and bedwetting. Apart from these many other urological problems in children can develop in the ureters, kidneys, genitals and urethra. Diagnosing urological problems in children is not same as for adults because babies can't express their feelings and older children may not express them out of feelings of embarrassment.

Pediatric urologists are trained specially to elicit the symptoms from children and diagnose babies with urological problems. Apart from urinary tract infections and bedwetting, children suffer from the following urology problems.

Hernias and hydrocele

It is estimated that around 10% of the newborn baby boys are found with a swelling of the scrotum that is painless. This painless swelling is caused by the collection of a fluid around the baby's testicles. This filling up of fluid is caused by the non closure of the pathway through which the baby's testicles descend before birth into the sac that contains them. If the is pathway remains open after the testicle has descended then it gets filled up with fluid. In most cases the condition disappears by itself a few months after birth. If this doesn't happen then a hernia will develop when a part of the intestines pass through the still open pathway requiring minor surgery.

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)

Vesicoureteral reflux is a very common urological disorder in children especially girls. This condition is a result of a small defect in the channel that connects the bladder and the ureter. In normal cases the urine flows only one way from the kidneys to the ureter and then to the bladder but in VUR cases the urine flows back to the kidneys to provide fertile ground for bacteria to grow. Therefore the first indication of VUR is urinary tract infection. Most children outgrow this condition. It that doesn't happen then in some cases doctors inject a gel into the ureter to provide relief. More severe cases may call for surgery.

Undescended testicles

It is natural for the male child's testes to be exposed outside the body. However in about 4% of the newborn male babies the testicles remain inside the abdomen and do not descent into the scrotum. Usually the condition is seen more in prematurely born babies. By the time the baby reaches 6 months the condition usually disappears. If this doesn't happen then it can be corrected by minor surgery.

Hypostasis

It is a congenital defect in which the opening into the urethra is located at the wrong place in the male child's penis. This defect is quite common a it occurs in 1 in 150 of the newborn males. This condition is also corrected by surgery.

Hypospadias.

In some cases of male babies due to the incomplete growth of the urethra the opening through which urine passes outside, instead of being located at the very tip of the baby's penis, is located on its underside. This condition should be treated before toilet training of the baby begins after the age of six months. This condition needs surgery that is technically exacting.