[Acute urinary retention in children].

Acute urinary retention is defined as failure to urinate in spite of an adequate amount of urine in the bladder. Acute urinary retention in children is rare, and may cause pain and distress. Diagnosis and urgent treatment are essential. Identification and treatment of underlying medical conditions such as constipation, neurological impairment or adverse reactions to medications may prevent recurrence of retention. We describe six cases of children who were hospitalized with acute urinary retention and review the medical literature on the subject.