The importance of urinary tract infection in the evaluation of the incontinent child

Abstract

Diurnal incontinence secondary to dysfunctional voiding is a problem that is commonly encountered by the pediatric urologist. We have observed that reflux is more common in these children and hypothesized that urinary tract infection would influence the rate of reflux as well as the rate of significant urinary tract abnormalities, such as renal scarring. We prospectively evaluated 308 incontinent children with a voiding cystourethrogram and upper tract studies. Of these patients 162 (53%) had had previous culture proved urinary tract infection, while 146 (47%) had no history of infection. A total of 90 patients (29%) had an abnormal voiding cystourethrogram, which demonstrated reflux in all but 1. Among the patients with a history of urinary tract infection reflux was found in 34% compared to 23.3% in those with no history of urinary tract infection (p = 0.82). Five patients had significant cortical scarring, of whom 4 had grade III or greater reflux along with urinary tract infection. We conclude that urinary tract infection is not helpful in determining which patients with dysfunctional voiding will exhibit vesicoureteral reflux but it is important in detecting significant upper tract abnormalities, such as renal scarring. We discuss appropriate evaluation in children who present with incontinence secondary to dysfunctional voiding with or without urinary tract infections.

Publication Title

Journal of Urology

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