Pediatric Urology
In our GUA Urology and Andrology center we have a specialized Pediatric Urology Unit.
What is pediatric urology?
The European Society of Pediatric Urology (ESPU) defines Pediatric Urology as a subspecialty of Pediatric Urology and Surgery that deals with the study, treatment (medical and/or surgical) and rehabilitation of congenital and acquired diseases, malformations and genitourinary problems in children and adolescents.
According to ESPU data, uro-pediatric pathologies represent between 10 and 20% of all urological diseases, depending on whether the upper age limit is set at 14 or 18 years of age. Approximately 75% of pediatric surgery is urological.
In order to advance in the study and treatment of this group and to offer an optimal level of care, it is necessary to dedicate exclusive attention to this field.
When is it convenient to take the child to the urologist?
Urology prevents, diagnoses and treats both clinical and surgical problems and it is convenient to clarify that children can also suffer from urinary or genital problems, it is not something reserved for older people. Therefore, it will be necessary to pay attention to a series of symptoms in the face of the difficulty, in the case of babies, of communicating.
Although it is true that the follow-up and treatment of any child pathology is usually referred first to the pediatrician, in some cases where the condition is complicated, the pediatrician himself may require a second opinion from a specialist such as a urologist.
Common urological problems in children
We can differentiate two categories with the most frequent pathologies:
Reproductive system
Narrow or closed foreskin (phimosis)
It is known as phimosis. It is usually solved in infancy through daily care in which, little by little and during washing, the exercise of removing the foreskin surrounding the penis should be performed so that the skin will give way.
Occult or undescended testes (cryptorchidism)
As a general rule, the testicles should descend before the baby is born or during the first few months of life.
But it can happen that the testicles stop between the groin and the base of the penis, which causes the scrotal sacs to be empty. This condition is known as cryptorchidism.
Penile malformation
The most common are curved penis or hypospadias, a defect in the opening of the penis present at birth in which the urethra ends at the underside of the penis and not at the tip.
Urinary system
Urine infections
They are frequent and occur when bacteria are present in the urinary bladder or kidneys. Symptoms include fever and pain when urinating. They are easy to treat, but always under the care and recommendation of a specialist.
Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can be present during the day or at night, which is known as enuresis, bedwetting. The best clue is the one we have given above: special attention should be paid if this occurs after the age of 5 years. Nocturnal continence is the most difficult, since controlling it during sleep is a somewhat more complex task. Its causes may be various, and may be due to a deep sleep pattern, a congenital defect, or stress and constipation.
Malformations
Some of these may include dilation of the kidneys, known as hydronephrosis, and of the ureter, caused by a buildup of urine. This prevents urine from flowing properly.
Children's urological surgeries offered by our center:
We have surgeons specialized in pediatric urology of international prestige such as Dr. Caffaratti who has performed more than 12,000 pediatric urology surgeries and has more than 25 years of experience in this type of specialty within urology.
We perform all types of surgeries in children such as laparoscopic surgery, robotic surgery, laser surgery for stones or urinary problems.
What are the objectives of our Pediatric Urology Unit?
- To provide comprehensive care, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up to all pediatric patients with nephro-urological and genital conditions.
- To offer assistance, as a reference center in the Canary Islands, in pathologies that require specialized means, experience and management using technology that is usually available in adult Urology Services such as, for example, the integral treatment of lithiasis or renal stones (shock waves, endourology, laser).
- Interdisciplinary and transversal work with the advantage of having the experience in other fields of Urology as previously mentioned (lithiasis-endourology) as well as the close collaboration with other services of our center as a laboratory to provide a comprehensive response to the Uro-pediatric pathologies.
- Follow-up of the children treated until the complete resolution of their pathologies, even into adulthood, since many of the uropediatric problems have repercussions in adulthood.
Conclusion
Our will is to offer assistance coverage to babies and children with chronic renal insufficiency or with highly complex pathologies that require a coordinated and team work. We offer a comprehensive quality service, we have the best technology for the resolution of pathologies or uropediatric problems with their corresponding evolutionary follow-up until their resolution even in adulthood.
Contact us for more information.
