11 year old sudden bladder leakage

[Wat2do222]

Hi all - my 11 year old dd came home last night in tears. She said since Monday she has been experiencing bladder leaks. She said its happening when she stands up and doesn't feel like she has any control to stop it. TMI it is definitely wee and It happened twice yesterday evening at home and she had been to the toilet several times. I sent her to bed with a sanitary towel on and off to school this morn with one on as well. Waiting for the Docs to come back with an appt. Has anyone have any experience of this? She says no pain/burning when using the loo and shes not withholding. She hasn't started her periods yet but getting signs that puberty is on the way - could it be hormones?

I think a trip to the GP might be an idea.

Sorry just seen you have a gp appointment. Sorry my only other thought is a uti.

UTI? One of mine had an episode of this and it was a UTI. Easily remedied.

Yes just waiting for them to come back to me, haven't had to book gp since pre covid - they insist on an online form before they will get in touch. I guess could be uti but always associated that with burning/pain, trouble going etc which she seems to have none of?

Tbh I will be so relived if uti - dr google is not your friend sometimes!

I am a GP. I can't diagnose your DD over the internet, but this is something that I would want to know about the same day, if she were my patient. A UTI is the most likely, but you also need to rule out anything affecting the nerves controlling the bladder.

The most useful thing you can do, while waiting for the surgery to call back, is to get a urine sample from her, as the surgery can do a dipstick test, which will give a good indication whether or not it is an infection.

Hope it is sorted quickly. UTIs usually respond very fast to antibiotics, so hopefully she will be right as rain soon.

@lifeinthehills thanks so much, I went down a dark path last night

PS make sure you tell them about the loss of bladder control. To reassure, it is a good sign (though horrid for her) that she is aware that it is happening, and a UTI is by far the most likely diagnosis, but you are right to want to get her seen,

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow thanks so much, I have sent her off to school but ready to grab her if GP give appt today

Gp just came back appt.@ 1.20pm tomorrow - doing appts on Saturdays now? So out of the loop!

Thanks for the reassurance all x

Next question - any urine sample tips? Dd won't even wee in the sea so its going to be interesting

Your poor DD .
I'd be thinking UTI too

And she might not be emptying her bladder properly , the female urethra and bladder are shaped that sometimes a pool of wee is trapped and this can be hosting bacteria .

When she pees she should count to 30 then see if there's any more to pee more and empty completely ..And always front-to-back to prevent bacterial transfer

I am ancient and menopausal but I find if I have a wee , then shower , I desperately need a wee again after . Not when the shower is running so it isn't the sound of water . Damned brain-bladder connection

mid stream sample preferably first pee of morning

you need a cup or something she can pee a bit , put the cup in place to catch a mid stream sample .
Might be easier standing in the bath or shower .

Probably a UTI - definitely needs a doctors appt

@70isaLimitNotaTarget great ideas thank so much, thought it would be better to bring in than the stress of doing it at docs

GPS will only accept a sterile sample so go in to the surgery today to pick up the pot and help her do it with the first wee tomorrow nothing before the appt

@YukoandHiro thanks so much for the heads up

You can get the pots from pharmacies too. The ones with the red top are ideal, but the ones with a white top are fine, as long as the urine sample is fairly fresh when tested.

Do you think the results would be immediate as in its a dip test?

Sorry to be grim but how fresh is fresh? Morn is ok or just before appt at 1pm?

Yes the results are immediate with a dip test. Get it as fresh as you can. Keep it in the fridge if it's going to be a few hours.

A few hours before should be fine.

The dipstick test gives immediate pointers as to whether an infection is likely. It doesn't tell you with total accuracy - they will need to send the sample to the lab to try to grow the bacteria, for that. But, if the dipstick suggests infection, they are likely to want to start treatment straightaway.

There is more info on taking samples here

Fabulous thanks so much all for the advice. Will update tomorrow in case this thread is use to any other people that experience this!

That morning will be ok. Refrigerate it while you're at home (but don't forget to take it!)