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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing
Published on: August 14, 2019
[Diagnostics of functional bladder disorders in children]
D Schultz-Lampel1, B Schönberger
1Kontinenzzentrum Südwest, Klinikum der Stadt Villingen-Schwenningen. ksw.daniela.schultz-lampel@klinikumvs.de
Insights
Pediatric functional bladder disorders, including enuresis and urinary incontinence, are diagnosed using non-invasive methods. Invasive tests like video-urodynamics are essential for classifying pediatric urinary incontinence.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Urodynamics
- Child Health
Context:
- Functional bladder disorders are frequent in children.
- Current practice differentiates enuresis from pediatric urinary incontinence.
- Diagnosis often relies on non-invasive primary procedures.
Purpose:
- To outline diagnostic procedures for pediatric bladder disorders.
- To emphasize the distinction between enuresis and urinary incontinence in diagnostic work-up.
- To highlight the necessity of invasive diagnostics for urinary incontinence.
Summary:
- Strict differentiation between enuresis and pediatric urinary incontinence is crucial.
- Monosymptomatic enuresis typically requires only non-invasive diagnostics.
- Video-urodynamic studies are mandatory for classifying pediatric urinary incontinence.
- New guidelines aim to standardize the diagnostic evaluation of pediatric bladder disorders.
Impact:
- Standardized diagnostic work-up for pediatric bladder disorders.
- Improved classification and management of functional bladder disorders in children.
- Reduced unnecessary invasive procedures for monosymptomatic enuresis.
Abstract:
Functional bladder disorders are one of the most frequent urinary disorders in children. Today, we strictly differentiate enuresis from pediatric urinary incontinence. In most cases, these classifications will be achieved with non-invasive, primary diagnostic procedures. In monosymptomatic enuresis, further invasive examinations are not necessary. However, in pediatric urinary incontinence invasive diagnostic tools such as video-urodynamic studies are mandatory for a correct classification. Recently established guidelines on the diagnostic procedures for the evaluation of pediatric bladder disorders will help to standardize the diagnostic work-up.
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