Question
A two-and-a-half-year-old boy has recently been experiencing an increased number of nighttime urinations, sometimes reaching 5 to 6 times per night. Is this normal?
Answer
Adults typically urinate 4 to 6 times during the day and 0 to 2 times at night. An increased frequency of urination is known as polyuria. Polyuria is a symptom, not a disease, and can be caused by various factors, including nervous and mental factors, post-sickness weakness, or parasitic infections. For children who frequently experience polyuria, it is necessary to rule out urinary tract infections or other inflammatory conditions in the external genital or penile areas. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that frequent urination is mainly due to the child’s weak constitution, insufficient kidney Qi, and the bladder’s inability to effectively retain urine, leading to poor water metabolism. Additionally, overexertion or weakness of the spleen and lungs, where the upper part cannot control the lower part and the earth cannot control water, can also lead to frequent urination. Therefore, polyuria is often considered a deficiency symptom and requires nourishment; it is recommended to consume more plant-based organic alkaline foods and less meat, along with an increase in vegetable intake.