Is it Normal for a Child to Have Less Urine?
Some children have particularly low daily urine output, basically less than 200 milliliters, and even some have daily urine output less than 30 to 50 milliliters. Whether a child's low urine output is normal depends on whether their daily water intake is normal. If the water intake is too low, then the urine output will also decrease accordingly. If the urine output is low despite normal water intake, it is often due to illness.
a. Water intake: Oliguria in infants refers to a daily urine output of less than 200 milliliters, and anuria refers to a daily urine output of less than 30-50 milliliters. The amount of water intake affects the increase or decrease in urine output. If the water intake is high, the urine output will also increase accordingly. If the water intake is too low, the urine output will also decrease accordingly. If the urine output remains low despite excluding the reason of water intake, it is likely that the child is suffering from an illness.
b. Pathological oliguria: Pathological oliguria in children can be caused by various conditions, such as severe diarrhea or violent vomiting. However, clinical findings suggest that dehydration in children is more often caused by kidney diseases, such as acute nephritis, urethral stenosis or obstruction, acute exacerbation of chronic nephritis, acute renal failure, and renal failure due to chronic kidney disease. If anuria occurs, it can indicate severe damage to kidney function.
a. Reduction in nighttime urine output with age: As the baby grows older, the storage capacity of the bladder increases, resulting in a decrease in nighttime urination. Gradually, there is no need for urination during the night. Therefore, as long as the daytime urine output is normal, there is no need to worry.
b. Supplementing water for children: It is important to regularly supplement water for children, especially during dry weather or in summer. Additionally, encouraging children to consume fresh fruits and vegetables can also help with urination.