Extreme daytime urinary frequency syndrome

What is Extreme Daytime Urinary Frequency Syndrome?

This when a child who is potty trained suddenly starts to urinate (pee) a lot. It happens most often between the ages of 3 years and 7 years old.

• Your child may use the bathroom as often as every 5 to 10 minutes. Most times, very little or no urine comes out.  
• Normally, your child will not have wetting accidents during the day. They sometimes can wait to go to the bathroom for short periods of time if asked. 
• Your child will most likely not get up at night to go to the bathroom. 

This sudden change can be very concerning to parents. 

What causes it?

Most often, this is not caused by a physical problem, or a problem with the bladder or kidneys.  It is not always clear why children start using the bathroom so often. It may be caused by:

• Stress or emotional issues.
• Other illnesses.
• Constipation, or too much stool (poop) in the rectum.

What testing is needed?

• A physical exam may be done. Often, the only test that is needed is a urine test. The test, called urinalysis, is done to make sure there is not an infection causing the problem. 
• Other tests may be ordered if the problem does not go away. Sometimes, an x-ray of the belly (abdomen) is done to check for constipation.

What can be done to treat this?

The need to go so often normally goes away on its own. Bladder medicines rarely help. It can take several months to go away completely. Until it does, be patient with your child and try not to get upset with them. This can make the problem worse for the child.  Other things you can try:

• Do not let your child drink beverages that irritate the bladder. These include caffeine, carbonated drinks, citrus, chocolate, and drinks that are red, blue or purple. 
• Ask your child to wait for a few minutes to use the bathroom. Some parents say this has helped. 
• Treat any problems with bowel movements. 

Your child’s healthcare provider will tell you if your child should have more treatment.