Question
What could be the possible causes of children experiencing symptoms such as incomplete urination, difficulty urinating, and urinary pain? How should one seek medical assistance?
Answer
Children’s urinary pain can be caused by various factors, with the most common being urinary tract infections, which are often due to ascending infections from the urethral opening. Since the urethral opening is close to the anus, boys may be more susceptible to infections due to smegma on the foreskin. Infections can lead to local symptoms such as redness and heat pain. Additionally, urinary tract injury is also a possible cause; children may injure the urethra during play by falling or colliding, leading to regional irritation that causes pain during urination. Given the diverse causes of urinary pain and the fact that many are non-self-limiting conditions, families should seek timely medical attention to identify the cause and treat it accordingly to avoid unnecessary harm.