Lower urinary tract dysfunction is frequently seen in urinary tract infections in children and is often associated with reduced quality of life

Abstract

Aim: Previous studies suggest that 6-46% of children suffer from lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). This study evaluated the prevalence of LUTD in children with a urinary tract infection (UTI) and assessed the impact of standard urotherapy on patients with LUTD.

Methods: We enrolled 228 patients who were 4 years of age or older with at least one episode of UTI, together with a control group of 100 children. All the children were evaluated using the Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score (PLUTSS), and the intervention group were re-assessed after therapy to gauge their response.

Results: Lower urinary tract dysfunction was detected in 134 (59%) patients. Their mean PLUTSS was 15.9 ± 5.3, and 78% of these patients had a reduced quality of life (QOL). After 5 ± 2.7 months of behavioural therapy, 105 (78%) patients with LUTD were evaluated for the second time. This showed that LUTD was ameliorated in 69% of the patients and improved in 26%, with a mean post-treatment PLUTSS of 6.6 ± 5.6. Two control group children had LUTD.

Conclusion: Lower urinary tract dysfunction was frequently seen in patients with UTIs, but standard urotherapy was usually successful. Most of the patients in our study with LUTD also had an impaired QOL.

Keywords: Lower urinary tract dysfunction; Paediatric; Pediatric Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score; Urinary tract infection; Urotherapy.