Incontinence - Taking care of your bladder

Impact of urinary incontinence on social life Spina bifida prevents most children with the condition from urinating naturally. Your child may have lost bladder control or be unable to empty his or her bladder completely. Incontinence has a major impact on the social life of children and those around them. In the case of children, incontinence can be embarrassing and can have repercussions on social life (the child may no longer be able to take part in evenings out with friends or school trips). This social withdrawal can be exacerbated when the child is forced to wear nappies, which can prevent them from wearing fashionable clothes. The child may lose self-confidence. On the parents' side, daily life is punctuated by rigorous organisation. Why is emptying the bladder so important? Urine is made up of waste products and excess water from the body.It is produced by the kidneys (1) before being transported to the bladder (2). It is then eliminated from the body through the urethra (3). If your child's bladder is not emptied regularly and completely, this can lead to urinary tract infections and possible deterioration in kidney function. These infections start in the bladder, but can then move to the kidneys, leading to serious kidney damage. In fact, incomplete emptying of the bladder encourages the onset of infections. It is recommended that you empty your bladder 4 to 6 times a day. Using a urinary catheter to empty your child's bladder Intermittent urinary catheterisation is a method of emptying the bladder using a thin hollow plastic tube called a urinary catheter. It's a painless and effective way of helping your child to pass urine in a healthy way. The urinary catheter is gently inserted into the urethra to empty the bladder.It is advisable to empty the bladder with the urinary catheter 4 to 6 times a day. Parents should carry out the urinary catheterisation themselves until the child is able to be independent, usually around the age of 5.At first, this procedure may seem difficult, but most children soon get used to it.