What is Urinary Obstruction

Urinary obstruction happens when something blocks the passage of urine from your child’s body. The blockage may be in:

• A kidney. This is an organ that filters blood and produces urine.
• A ureter. This is the part of the body that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
• The bladder. This is the sac that holds urine until it leaves the body.
• The urethra. This is the part of the body that drains urine from the bladder.

This condition can put pressure on the kidneys. It can lead to a kidney infection or kidney damage.

What are the causes?

This condition may be caused by:

• A birth defect. Birth defects that most often cause this condition involve abnormal development of the ureters, the urethra, or the kidneys.
• Kidney stones.
• Blood clots.
• Scar tissue.
• Tumors.
• Severe, chronic constipation.
• Injuries to the urinary system.
• Nervous system problems that prevent normal urination.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of this condition include:

• Pain in the back or abdomen.
• A mass that can be felt within the abdomen.
• Urinating less than normal or with a weak stream.
• Poor growth and weight gain (failure to thrive).
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Symptoms of urinary tract infection, such as:
  • A burning feeling when urinating.
  • Frequent urination.
  • Blood or pus in the urine.
  • Fever.

In some cases, there are no symptoms.

How is this diagnosed?

This condition is diagnosed based on:

• Your child’s symptoms and medical history.
• A physical exam.

Your child may also have tests, such as:

• Ultrasound.
• X-ray.
• CT scan.
• Blood tests.
• Urine tests.
• An X-ray exam that uses an injected dye (IV pyelogram or IVP).
• A test in which a small, hollow tube with a camera on it is inserted into the urethra and bladder (cystoscopy).

How is this treated?

Treatment for this condition depends on its severity and on the condition that caused it. Sometimes the problem corrects itself as the child grows and develops. In other cases, treatment may be needed. Treatment may include:

• Placement of a soft plastic tube (stent) into a blocked ureter.
• Placement of a drainage tube into a kidney.
• Placement of a tube (catheter) through the urethra into the bladder.
• Surgery to fix the problem that is causing the obstruction.
• Destruction or removal of a kidney stone.
• Antibiotic medicine to treat or prevent infection.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Give over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your child’s health care provider.
• If your child was prescribed an antibiotic medicine, give it to him or her as told by the health care provider. Do not stop giving the antibiotic even if your child starts to feel better.
• Have your child drink enough fluid to keep his or her urine pale yellow.
• If your child is going home with a catheter in place, make sure you understand how to care for it.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your child’s health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if your child:

• Is not gaining weight.

Get help right away if your child:

• Has pain in his or her back or abdomen.
• Has a fever.
• Has frequent urination or burning with urination.
• Has blood or pus in his or her urine.
• Does not want to eat or drink.
• Is vomiting.
• Has a sudden drop in the amount of urine that he or she produces in a day.
• Stops producing urine.
• Is very fussy.
• Is very sleepy.
• Has swollen feet or legs.
• Is younger than 3 months and has a temperature of 100°F (38°C) or higher.

Summary

• A urinary obstruction happens when something blocks the passage of urine from your child’s body.
• The blockage can occur anywhere in the urinary system.
• Your child may have several different tests to diagnose this condition.
• Treatment will depend on where the blockage occurs, how severe it is, what is causing it, and what symptoms your child has.