Eskenazi Health provides pediatric urology services during the first Tuesday and third Thursday of each month on the third floor of the Sandra Eskenazi Outpatient Care Center at 720 Eskenazi Ave.

Pediatric urology focuses on the management of conditions that affect the urinary tract and genitalia in children. Pediatric urologists use medical and/or surgical therapies to treat common conditions such as undescended testicles, hypospadias (opening of the pee hole on the underside of the penis), vesicoureteral reflux (back up of urine towards the kidneys), urinary tract infections, bedwetting and kidney stones.  

Parents should be concerned if their child has recurrent urinary tract infections or problems with urinary accidents after potty-training is completed. They should also be concerned if both of their son’s testicles have not dropped in to the scrotum by the age of 6 months. They should also know that any episodes of acute, severe testicular pain warrant immediate medical attention to evaluate for a condition called testicular torsion (twisting of the testicle on its own blood supply).

Thankfully, kidney stones are not common in children, but the number of children affected has grown steadily larger during the last several years. Changing eating habits may be responsible, especially the rise in the amount of sodium children consume through processed foods and table salt. 

The options for treatment typically depend on the size and location of the kidney stone(s).  Parents whose children have small stones in the kidney that don’t cause a blockage may elect observation or treatment, typically with a small telescope and laser that breaks the stone into little pieces. Children who have a stone causing a blockage in the drainage tube from the kidney may try to pass the stone on their own or elect treatment with the telescope and laser.

Most children with urologic issues do not need surgery and the likelihood of surgery is dependent upon the type of condition. Children with urinary tract infections, daytime urinary accidents or bedwetting are unlikely to need surgery. Many children with genital conditions like extra foreskin, undescended testicles or abnormalities of the pee hole may undergo surgery.

One to two surgery days are provided each month at Eskenazi Health. Patients from birth to 18 years of age must be referred by a provider in order to be seen. Eskenazi Health pediatric urology services are led by Dr. Katherine Chan.