When one’s bladder and different parts of the urinary tract don’t work in tandem, they may experience a condition called voiding dysfunction. It is commonly seen in children, especially those around six years old; It is not noticeable until they turn 4.
If not treated early, the condition may worsen in te future. You have to look for these symptoms if you want to find out about voiding dysfunction. If the signs are there, you need to visit the best urology hospital in Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Chennai, or wherever the best treatment is available.
Symptoms of Voiding Dysfunction
- Always feel like your bladder is not empty– One may feel uneasiness and discomfort as the feeling stays even after going to the bathroom multiple times.
- Difficulty during urination– Pain and muscle ache while urinating is a symptom of voiding dysfunction.
- Frequent bathroom intervals– Frequent bathroom visits (8 to 10) in a day are a severe condition, and you should immediately consult your doctor.
- Slow urination stream- Decrease in the speed of flow while urinating is also a sign of voiding dysfunction.
- 8 to 10 or more bathroom breaks daily- If you have to go to the toilet more than ten times a day, it is undoubtedly a symptom of this condition.
Risk Factors Involved
Voiding dysfunction usually occurs when pelvic floor muscles are overactive or relaxed. Trouble while urinating may also be a result of nerve complications. It may also happen if you have:
- Benign/cancerous tumors in the bladder
- Bladder stones
- Urethra blockages
- Enlarged prostate
- Overactive bladder
- Prostatitis, i.e., inflammation, swelling, and tenderness in that area
How to Diagnose this Condition
- Uroflowmetry- determines the amount of urine you release when going and speed
- Post-void residual (PVR) urine testing- determines how much urine is left in your bladder after urination
Treatment of Voiding Dysfunction
There are various treatment options for these conditions, and you can opt for the right one for you as the doctor suggests. The best urology hospital in Bangalore or the city where you are can be found by just googling it. They all provide the treatment but make sure about the services by reading their websites.
For overactive bladder:
- Social nerve modulation- This treatment helps the brain send messages to the nerves located in the tailbone, also known as the sacrum. These nerves are responsible for assisting the urine flow in a controlled way.
- Posterior tibial nerve stimulation- During this treatment, an electrode is inserted underneath the skin behind the ankle. And during the treatment, the electrode stimulates the nerves responsible for bladder control.
- Intravesical Botox injection- In this procedure, the patient will receive an injection directly into the bladder. These block the signal that their nerves send to the muscle.
For stress urinary incontinence:
- Artificial urethral sphincter- This prosthetic device is implanted in the natural external sphincter (the muscle controlling urine flow). It may be used if the patient has a damaged sphincter.
- Urethral slings- In this procedure, a urethral sling (band) that puts pressure on the urethra is attached to the concerned area. This band may be made of artificial material or tissue from the patient’s own body.
Around 15% of children below six years have this problem and, if not treated well, may carry this condition to adulthood as well. A certain number of adults also experience this condition to some level, which can go away from a mild treatment or therapy.
Strictly following the diagnosis and treatment will bring the condition to a minimum level and further will cure the disease. Consult your doctor ASAP if any of these symptoms are occurring to your child. As the saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure.