Inability to urinate in children
For most children, the inability to urinate is caused by dehydration. Common causes of dehydration are not drinking enough fluids, diarrhea, vomiting, and fever. A child can also quickly become dehydrated in hot weather.
When a child is not dehydrated, the inability to urinate can be caused by:
- Injury.
- Infection.
- Medications, such as Actifed, Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, Dimetapp, Robitussin Cough and Cold, Tavist, or Phenergan.
- Problems with the structure or function of the urinary tract, such as vesicoureteral reflux, an obstruction in the urinary tract, or another abnormality.
A child who is not dehydrated but cannot urinate should be evaluated by a health professional. If the bladder fills up, the child will be very uncomfortable.
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: April 30, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology | |
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