DUCK Clinic

DUCK clinic cares for:

• Children 3 years old or older and who are potty trained.
• Children who have urine problems during the day OR during the day and night.
• Please note: children who ONLY have nighttime bed wetting are seen in the Kidney Center.

At DUCK clinic, we see children having these problems:

• Infection of the urine system or symptoms of infection when no germ is there.
• Wetting pants during the day.
• Passing urine very often, even when not drinking a lot.
• Pain when passing urine.
• Sudden need to pass urine, even when the child just went.
• Having a hard time starting the urine stream or keeping it going.
• Cannot empty the bladder.
• Constipation that impacts bladder behavior.

Connection between bowel and bladder

The bladder and bowel communicate, and your child’s urinary problems may be affected by their bowel habits. Often, children with urinary problems also struggle with constipation. If you or your primary care provider suspect constipation could be part of the problem, we may try to treat that first or refer you to the BRICK clinic for chronic constipation before coming to the DUCK clinic.

Who will care for my child?

An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) with special training on how to help kids with urine problems will see your child.

See all the members of the Urology team at CM. 

What do I need to do before my child’s appointment?

• Get an X-ray of your child’s belly (abdomen) before your appointment. We will help you schedule this, often right before your appointment.
• Complete a list of questions we send you about how your child pees and poops.
• It’s helpful to take notes about your child’s peeing and pooping for 2-3 days before your appointment. This helps us understand your child's issues. Be sure to track:
  • Time of the day.
  • Length of time in the bathroom.
  • The color of the pee and poop and what it looks like.

Helpful Documents to Complete before your Visit

• Voiding Stooling Log
  
  

Follow-up care

Your child may also need:

• Ultrasound of your child’s urine system.
• Bladder scan.
• Urine test.
• Urine culture (to check for infection).

Some treatment options:  

• Behavior training or modification.
• Bladder medications.
• Medications to help with pooping or referral to BRICK clinic/GI
• Pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy with biofeedback. This will help your child strengthen and relax the muscles that hold and release pee.
• Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Simulation (PTNS) - A therapy to stimulate the nerves in your leg that talk to to your bladder. This can help to calm down your bladder so you have to pee less often.

What to Expect

How long will my appointment be?

Please plan for at least 40 minutes for your appointment with us, in addition to any x-rays your child may need.

Where will my appointment be?

• The first appointment will be in person so we can do a physical exam. You can choose one of these locations:
  • Children’s Mercy Adele Hall Campus (downtown KC)
  • Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas
  • Children's Mercy East

• Follow-up visits can be either be in person or using Children’s Mercy KidCare Anywhere telehealth app. This will be your choice.

How often will my child need to be seen?

This will depend on your child’s health issue, their symptoms, and when you are available.