Question
A parent inquired about their child, who urinates twice in less than five minutes, with each urine output being minimal and showing a strong urge to urinate after consuming water or cool objects. Urinalysis results showed no issues, and the parent wanted to know what treatment and medication should be used if it is a urinary tract infection.
Answer
The doctor responded that if the urinalysis results are normal, the possibility of a urinary tract infection can be ruled out. For issues with frequent urination in children, parents should first consider if the child has experienced excessive stimulation or stress, such as central nervous system diseases or psychological factors. If a urinary tract infection is diagnosed, issues like phimosis, balanitis, bladder hyperreactivity, urine reflux, or kidney stones may need to be considered. If all test results are normal and the child exhibits characteristics of psychogenic frequent urination, a careful diagnosis of “psychogenic frequent urination” can be made. Treatment-wise, psychological therapy should be initiated first to determine the cause, followed by behavioral therapy, known as “urination retention training.” Parents may find this confusing, as urination retention training refers to behavioral training that helps children learn to control their urination habits.