Children as young as 13 being referred to UK hospital suffering from ‘ketamine bladder’
County’s first such clinic, at Alder Hey in Liverpool, treating children suffering from chronic bladder problems with severe cases needing dialysis Children as young as 13 in the UK have been referred to a specialist clinic for a “devastating” bladder condition linked to sustained use of ketamine. Medics at Alder Hey children’s hospital in Liverpool opened the first ketamine clinic in the UK for…
Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool launched the nation's inaugural ketamine clinic for adolescents grappling with chronic bladder issues, which may necessitate dialysis. Young individuals as young as 13 have been directed to this specialized facility due to a surge in urology problems tied to ketamine addiction.
At Alder Hey, medics have observed that the majority of patients are female and hail from disadvantaged backgrounds. Ketamine, when abused, can inflict grave health issues by remaining within the bladder for extended periods, causing damage to the bladder lining and muscular tissues. This condition, termed ketamine-induced uropathy or ketamine bladder, leads to symptoms such as frequent urination, loss of bladder control, and blood in the urine.
Some children resort to wearing incontinence pads and urinating into containers beside their beds due to these bladder complications stemming from ketamine addiction.
Harriet Corbett, a consultant paediatric urologist at Alder Hey, emphasized the devastating impact of ketamine on the bladder, which can result in ulceration, fibrosis, and irreversible consequences. Chronic bladder pain and incontinence are common among affected youth, with severe cases potentially requiring major surgery or dialysis.
The hospital's analysis of the inaugural patients treated at the ketamine clinic reveals an average age of 14, with a majority being girls and a significant proportion residing in deprived areas. According to the study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, 16 patients had autism or ADHD, or both, while nearly one in five had a history of involvement with the care system.
Almost three-quarters (72%) had endured emotional trauma during their childhood. Prof Rachel Isba, a consultant in paediatric public health medicine at Alder Hey and a professor emerita of children and young people's health at Lancaster University, underscored the importance of comprehending the broader context surrounding ketamine use among young people, noting that the drug's effects are not isolated and are influenced by various factors.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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