Pediatric urology is a surgical specialization of medicine that deals with genitourinary system disorders in children. Pediatric urologists treat both boys and girls from birth to the early adult years. A pediatric urologist is a physician who specializes in the treatment of children with urinary or genital disorders. Pediatric urologists can treat disorders that arise in the urinary system of a newborn, youngster, or adolescent, including the kidneys, bladder, urethra, and genital tract.

What is the role of a Pediatric Urologist?

These doctors are skilled to treat a wide variety of genital anomalies (growths or inappropriate positioning of the genitals on the body) as well as groin issues such as varicocele (swelling of veins in the scrotum).

Pediatric urologists are skilled to recognize issues and pain in children that are difficult to express by children. Our pediatric urologists evaluate, diagnose, and treat urology and genital disorders in children in a comfortable and relaxed setting. Our facilities are designed in a child-friendly manner, with toys, books, and entertainment, so that children do not feel frightened and are in a calm state of mind before undergoing any treatment.

Reasons to Consult a Pediatric Urologist

Urinary tract infections and genitalia adhesions (tissue that connects sections of the genitals) are minor pediatric urology concerns that can be treated by your child’s pediatrician or primary care doctor. However, if more severe issues arise, you should consult a pediatric urologist. The following are examples of situations that require an appointment:

  • Groin or scrotum hernias
  • Swelling of the testicles (hydroceles)
  • Bladder control issues and daytime accidents
  • Undescended testicles (testicles that have not dropped by the age of 12 to 18 months)
  • Stones in the kidneys or bladder
  • Children and teenagers who wet the bed
  • Urinary tract infections that recur with a high fever (pyelonephritis or pyelonephritis.)

If your child has more serious issues, your pediatrician may refer him or her to a pediatric urologist.

What to Expect at a Pediatric Urologist's Consultation?

Your child might expect a standard medical evaluation at their initial visit with a pediatric urologist. Your child’s medical history will be discussed with the pediatric urologist through questions. They will advise you on the best course of action to undertake in order to help your child recover from his or her illness. The following could be the next steps:

  • Urinary tract X-ray imaging
  • Kidney and/or bladder ultrasound
  • Urine stream testing
  • Kidney imaging with low-dose radiation

Pediatric Urology Services at Fakeeh University Hospital

Fakeeh University Hospital provides comprehensive evaluation, diagnosis, and management for children suffering from the disease of the genitals and urinary tract (kidneys, ureters, bladder), with utmost care and compassion.

Treatment of Groin Conditions

  • Undescended Testes – When a testicle fails to drop into its natural position in the scrotum, it is known as undescended.
  • Hydrocele – A hydrocele happens when fluid gathers in the scrotum and leads it to swell.
  • Inguinal Hernia – A hernia arises when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that keeps it in place.
  • Varicocele – An enlargement of the veins within the scrotum.

Treatment of Voiding Disorders

  • Neurogenic Bladder – children with neurogenic bladder lacks bladder control as a result of a brain, spinal cord, or nerve condition.
  • Nocturnal Enuresis – Bedwetting
  • Mixed Incontinence – Mixed incontinence is a mix of urge and stress incontinence.
  • Hyperactive Bladder Syndrome – In this condition, the need to urinate is frequent and abrupt, and it might be difficult to control.

Urinary Tract Infections(UTI)

An infection of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.

Vesicoureteral Reflux (VUR)

Vesicoureteral reflux is when the flow of urine goes the wrong way.

Surgical Reconstruction of the Urinary Tract

  • Hypospadias – A condition in which the mouth of the penis lies on the bottom rather than the tip. Single stage and redo Hypospadias repair is done with high success rate at FUH
  • Pyeloplasty – Pyeloplasty is a surgical procedure used to treat ureteropelvic junction (PUJ) obstruction.
  • Ureteric Reimplantation – It is a surgical procedure used to rectify the tubes that link the bladder to the kidneys. At Fakeeh University hospital children are offered state of the art Vesicoscopic Ureteric Reimplantation
  • Exstrophy Bladder – It is a congenital condition in which the bladder and its surrounding organs form inside out.
  • Augmentation Cystoplasty – It is a surgical procedure performed on adults and children who do not have adequate bladder capacity or detrusor compliance.
  • Genital Abnormalities – In boys, genital defects can affect the penis, scrotum, or testes, while in girls, they can affect the vagina and labia. The genitals are sometimes ambiguous, that is, they are not clearly female or male.
  • Disorders of Sex Development – Disorders of Sex Development are a diverse group of congenital conditions characterized by atypical development of internal and external genitalia.

Treatments related to the Kidney, Ureter & Bladder Cancers

At Fakeeh University Hospital, our pediatric experts are skilled at handling all types of tumors and malignancies of the kidney, bladder, and testis.

Antenatally Diagnosed Disorders

Like hydronephrosis, a condition characterized by an excess of fluid in the kidney as a result of urine back-up; kidney cysts that are fluid-filled sacs that form in the kidneys; duplex anomalies, which is marked by an incomplete fusion of upper and lower pole moieties, leading to a variety of partial or complete collecting system duplications; and ureteroceles, are all treated at the hospital.

Endourological Procedures

Are performed at the hospital too, like the posterior urethral valve (PUV) ablation, endoscopic anti-reflux injections (STING), diagnostic cystoscopy, urethroscopy, ureterocele treatment, and more.

Minimally-invasive Procedures

The hospital has clinicians that are masters in minimally invasive urology procedures like LAPAROSCOPY for undescended testis & varicocele treatment pyeloplasty, VESICOSCOPIC ureteric reimplantation, ureterolithotomy, nephrectomy, and more.

Advanced Diagnostics & more

The above treatments are conducted along with urodynamic studies like video urodynamic and uroflowmetry. We also have uro-radiology services like the MCUG, MR UROGRAPHY, and Nuclear Medicine Scans such as DMSA, MAG3, DTPA.

Pediatric urologists are trained to care for children and will do everything possible to make your child’s experience as seamless as possible. However, it can be difficult to know when to take your child to a pediatric urologist. When urinary problems recur, make an appointment with your child’s pediatrician and then look into pediatric urologist options.