Urinary Obstruction in Children

A urinary obstruction refers to anything that blocks, slows, or disrupts the normal flow of urine through the Reference urinary tract Opens New Window. Obstructions can occur at any point in the Reference urinary tract Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window. They can be present at birth (congenital) or develop later.

Causes of urinary obstructions in children include:

• Reference Kidney stones Opens New Window. Kidney stones are caused by the buildup of minerals in the kidneys.
• An abnormality of the point where the Reference ureter Opens New Window joins the kidney.
• A sagging or bulging of the ureter into the bladder, called a Reference ureterocele Opens New Window.
• An abnormality in which the ureter opens into an area other than the bladder. The ureter may open into the Reference urethra Opens New Window or the Reference vagina Opens New Window in girls or the Reference vas deferens Opens New Window in boys.
• Misplaced, narrowed, or widened ureters or urethra.

Urinary obstructions disrupt normal urine flow and allow bacteria to grow in the urinary tract. This increases the risk of bladder and kidney infections.

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