Regular urination prevents urine infection in children

Child needs to pass urine frequently


To go or not…. A wee problem ( urine problem)
One of the worries moms have about kids and schools is the hygiene of the toilet. Often they wonder whether their kid will catch urine infection from the toilets.
In the movie “3 idiots” one scene involves Rancho punishing his senior for ragging. He will connect a spoon to an electric wire and place it strategically so that the senior guy will get a shock of his life when he relieves himself in that spot.
But if you ask me whether the bugs can travel up a stream of urine as fast as electricity does, my answer would be no. In fact harbouring a urine infection from a toilet seat is very remote.
So kids should be encouraged to promptly use the two breaks during school for relieving themselves. Parents should be aware that holding urine for more than 6-8 hours of school makes their kid more prone for urine infection due to stagnation, than using the so called “dirty loo”.
The normal frequency of urination is twice before school, twice at school and 3-4 times after school totalling 7-8 times per day. If your child goes only 3 times a day it is far too less and they are at higher risk of urine infection. If the child goes above 10 times may be there is already a urine infection and the urine may need to be tested.
Parents and Schools should be aware of this important issue. No school should discourage a child taking a toilet break.
Professor Dr Ramesh Babu FRCS ( UK)
Paediatric Urologist
Rio children and Maternity Hospital Madurai