(Bladder, Neurogenic—Child; Neurogenic Incontinence—Child; Incontinence, Neurogenic—Child)
Definition
Definition
Neurogenic bladder is a problem with how the bladder works because of a nerve problem. Problems may include:
- Bladder empties too often
- Incontinence—bladder empties at the wrong time.
- Urinary retention—unable to completely empty the urine
- Urine leaks out of the overfilled bladder
Bladder With Nerves, FemaleCopyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
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Causes
Causes
Neurogenic bladder is caused by damage or injury to the nerves carrying messages between the bladder and the brain. The nerve damage makes it difficult to coordinate when the bladder should empty.
Risk Factors
Risk Factors
Factors that increase your child’s chance of neurogenic bladder include:
- Birth defect that affects the spinal cord, such as spina bifida
- Spinal cord injury
- Tumors of the brain or spinal cord in the pelvic area
- Infection of the brain or spinal cord
Symptoms
Symptoms
Symptoms may include:
- Small amount of urine
- Frequent urination
- Dribbling urine
- Inability to feel that the bladder is full
- Straining during urination
- Inability to urinate
- Overflow of urine from a full bladder
- Painful urination
- Urinary tract infection
- Kidney injury from urine backing up into the bladder
- Kidney stones
These symptoms may be caused by other conditions. If your child has any of these symptoms, talk to their doctor.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your child’s symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will also be done. The doctor may ask you to keep a diary of how often your child empties their bladder and other urinary habits. The doctor may recommend tests to rule out other conditions:
- Urinalysis—test of the urine to look for evidence of infection or kidney problems
- Blood tests—to look for evidence of kidney problems
- Bladder function tests—to measure how well the muscles of the bladder respond to filling and emptying
Imaging tests may also be done to evaluate the bladder and urinary tract. These may include:
Treatment
Treatment
Talk with the doctor about the best treatment plan for your child. Treatment options include the following:
Medication
The doctor may recommend that your child take antibiotics to prevent urinary tract infections.
Other medication may also be used to improve bladder function.
Catheters
A thin tube, called a catheter, can be inserted to empty your child’s bladder. You can learn to do this for your child, or a trained healthcare professional may do it.
Surgery
If other treatments fail, surgery may be an option. The exact type of surgery will depend on what is causing the problems. Some surgical options include enlarging the bladder or creating an artificial sphincter to control urine flow.
Prevention
Prevention
Most cases of neurogenic bladder cannot be prevented.
RESOURCES:
Urology Care Foundation http://www.urologyhealth.org
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian/American Spinal Research Organization http://www.csro.com
References:
http://www.childrenshospital.org/health-topics/conditions/neurogenic-bladder
Accessed June 25, 2013.
Neurogenic bladder. Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin website. Available at:
http://www.chw.org/medical-care/urology/urology-overview/neurogenic-bladder
Accessed June 25, 2013.
Neurogenic bladder. Urology Care Foundation website. Available at:
http://www.urologyhealth.org/urology/index.cfm?article=9
Accessed June 25, 2013.
Last Updated: 5/5/2014