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 young people amid a surge in urology problems linked to addiction of the drug.

Now analysis of the first patients to use the service shows some are as young as 13, with most being girls and most living in deprived areas.

Excessive use of ketamine can cause serious health problems as the drug and its breakdown products sit in the bladder for a long time, where they can damage the lining and muscle tissue.

Ketamine-induced uropathy – also known as ketamine bladder – is a severe and painful condition caused by the drug damaging the bladder, urinary tubes and kidneys. Symptoms include frequent urination, loss of bladder control and blood in the urine.

Some of the children affected are using incontinence pads and urinating in buckets next to their bed at night due to bladder problems caused by addiction to ketamine.

“The damage caused by ketamine can be devastating,” said Harriet Corbett, a consultant paediatric urologist at Alder Hey children’s NHS foundation trust.

“It can affect the bladder wall, causing ulceration and fibrosis, and the effects can be irreversible. Young people can experience chronic bladder pain and incontinence and, in the most severe cases, may go on to require major surgery or dialysis.”

Doctors were being referred to a rising number of children with bladder symptoms caused by non-prescribed ketamine use, Corbett added.

“What this first year of analysis has highlighted is the importance of understanding the young person behind the diagnosis.”

Analysis of the first patients to use the service shows some are as young as 13, with most being girls and most living in deprived areas.

“By looking at factors such as age, where they live, their background and their life experiences, we can start to build a much clearer picture of who is being affected and how we can best support them.

“This problem is preventable. Understanding more about the young people who are presenting to us is an important step towards preventing further harm,” Corbett said.