Frequent urination, or urinary frequency (Pollakiuria is the scientific terminology for the same), is the need to urinate more often than usual. It is often, though not necessarily, associated with urinary incontinence and polyuria (large total volume of urine). However, in other cases, urinary frequency involves only normal volumes of urine overall.
Contents
A frequent need to urinate at night is called nocturia. Frequent urination is strongly associated with frequent incidents of urinary urgency.
Definition
The normal number of times varies according to the age of the person. Among young children, urinating 8 to 14 times each day is typical. This decreases to 6 to 12 times per day for older children, and to 4 to 6 times per day among teenagers.
Causes
Frequent urination is a classic sign of urinary tract infection, where inflammation reduces the bladder's capacity to hold urine. Other common causes are:
Other causes of polyuria may, less commonly, cause frequent urination.
Other causes of frequent urination may be as a result from a disturbance along the urinary tract, including:
Less commonly, frequent urination may result from bladder cancer, bladder dysfunction or radiation therapy.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of the underlying cause requires a careful and thorough evaluation.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the underlying cause. Antipsychotic therapy has often been found to be effective.