Pollakiuria

pollakiuria is a urinary sign, a component of the voiding syndrome, characterized by an increase in the number of micturitions (micturition frequency) during the day, which are usually small and reflect irritation or inflammation of the urinary tract. It is usually accompanied by nocturia and other symptoms of the voiding syndrome such as urgency and dysuria.

We speak of nocturnal pollakiuria (nocturia) when the abnormal increase in the number of urinations occurs exclusively at night.

This term should not be confused with polyuria, which is very profuse urination.

Etiology

The most common cause of urinary frequency is usually a urinary tract infection, especially in women. Some medications such as diphenhydramine can cause frequency of uria. It can also appear as a symptom of irritation of organs adjacent to the urinary tract such as appendicitis, vulvovaginitis, endometritis or gastroenteritis.

During pregnancy in women it is considered a normal sign, although the existence of urinary infection must be ruled out.

Most frequently, this clinical sign is due to diseases originating in the urinary tract. But sometimes it is generated by the existence of a benign or malignant tumor close to the bladder that compresses it, as is the case with ovarian tumors in women.

In men, especially those over 50, urinary tract infections are less frequent, so benign prostatic hyperplasia or prostate cancer must not be ruled out.

Treatment

Treatment for frequency depends on the underlying cause. For example: if it is due to a urinary tract infection, it will be treated with an antibiotic.