Paediatric Urology

Dr. Oriol Martín Solé · Information for families

Bladder conditions in children

The bladder stores urine until it is time to urinate. These conditions can affect its shape, control or emptying.

Understanding bladder conditions

12 conditions
An intravesical ureterocele: a balloon-like swelling at the end of a ureter inside the bladder.

Ureterocele

A balloon-like swelling at the end of a ureter inside the bladder that can hinder urine drainage. It is usually associated with a duplicated ureteric system.

A male exstrophy example: exposed bladder plate, low navel, pubic diastasis shown with a bone overlay, and genitalia with epispadias.

Bladder exstrophy

A severe congenital malformation in which the bladder is open through the lower abdominal wall, associated with epispadias and separation of the pubic bones.

Recognisable lumbar vertebrae and sacrum, interrupted nerve signals and an example of a small, pear-shaped, multidiverticular bladder.

Neurogenic bladder

Impaired bladder nerve control, usually due to spina bifida in children, but also caused by spinal cord injury or tumour compression.

A patent urachus example: an open connection between the bladder dome and the navel.

Persistent urachus

Persistence of part of the fetal channel between the bladder and the navel, which may form a cyst or remain open.

A large bladder diverticulum connected to the bladder by a narrow neck.

Bladder diverticulum

An outpouching of the bladder wall that may retain urine after voiding, increasing the risk of infections or other urinary symptoms.

Two prominent stones within the bladder cavity.

Bladder stones

Stones within the bladder that may cause pain, blood in the urine or difficulty urinating.

A Hinman syndrome example with a small, pear-shaped, multidiverticular bladder, dilated ureters and renal pelves, and arrows showing bilateral high-grade vesicoureteral reflux.

Hinman syndrome

Severe bladder-emptying dysfunction caused by poor coordination with the sphincter, without an explanatory neurological lesion. It is usually associated with high-grade vesicoureteral reflux.

A smaller bladder, urgency lightning symbols on both sides and multiple prominent droplets representing urine leakage.

Overactive bladder

A sudden, intense urge to urinate (urinary urgency), often with frequent urination and possible urine leakage.

An inflamed bladder wall with symbolic bacteria within the cavity.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by bacterial infection, which may cause burning and frequent urination.

A bladder with multiple large, clearly visible urine droplets and a moon representing wetting during sleep.

Nocturnal enuresis

Involuntary wetting during sleep from the age of five years.

A bladder with multiple large, prominent droplets below the urethral outlet representing involuntary urine leakage.

Urinary incontinence

Involuntary urine leakage that may have different causes and occur during the day or at night.

The urinary tract with a symbolic bacterial inset and a thermometer at 39 °C representing possible infection-related fever.

Urinary tract infections

Infections of the urinary tract, usually caused by bacteria, that may affect the bladder or kidneys.

These anatomical and functional diagrams are illustrative examples and do not represent every variation.

Further reading
All conditions