Neurogenic Bladder—Child

Definition

Neurogenic bladder is abnormal bladder function caused by a nerve problem. The bladder may empty too often or at the wrong time. This is called incontinence. In other cases, the bladder may be unable to completely empty the urine. This is called urinary retention. Urine may leak out of the overfilled bladder.

Bladder With Nerves, Female

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Causes

This condition is caused by problems with the nerves carrying messages between the bladder and the brain. In children, neurogenic bladder may be due to a birth defect that affects the spinal cord, such as spina bifida. It may be caused by:

• Spinal cord injury
• Tumors of the brain or spinal cord in the pelvic area
• Infection of the brain or spinal cord

Risk Factors

Risk factors include:

• Having a birth defect that affects the spinal cord
• Having certain conditions (eg, injury, tumor, or infection) that affect the spinal cord

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 the doctor.

Diagnosis

Your 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 his bladder and other urinary habits. If the doctor thinks that the symptoms may be caused by a nerve problem, your child may need tests, such as:

• 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

Sometimes imaging tests may also be done, like:

• X-rays —a test that uses radiation to take a picture of structures inside the body
• Ultrasound —a test that uses sound waves to examine the kidneys, ureters, and/or bladder
• Computed tomography (CT) scan —use of x-rays and computers to make detailed images of the kidneys, ureters, and/or bladder
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) —the use of powerful magnets and radio waves to create images of the brain and/or spinal cord; other imaging tests may be used

Treatment

Talk with the doctor about the best treatment plan for your child. Treatment options include the following:

Prevention

Most cases of neurogenic bladder cannot be prevented. You can help your child avoid spinal cord injuries by taking certain precautions, like wearing a seat belt in the car.