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The daytime urinary frequency syndrome of childhood
Insights
Daytime urinary frequency in children is a common, self-resolving condition. Most cases do not require medication or extensive urological evaluation, suggesting a behavioral origin.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Urology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Daytime urinary frequency is a common presenting symptom in pediatric urology.
- The etiology and optimal management of this condition remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics, natural history, and diagnostic approach for isolated daytime urinary frequency in children.
- To determine the efficacy of anticholinergic medication and the need for extensive urological evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 43 toilet-trained children aged 2-12 years with isolated daytime urinary frequency.
- Noninvasive investigations included history, physical examination, urinalysis, and renal ultrasonography.
Main Results:
- The condition resolved spontaneously in all patients, lasting from 2 days to 16 months.
- Recurrence was low (3%) unless nocturnal symptoms were present (40%).
- Anticholinergic medication showed no improvement; noninvasive investigations were sufficient for diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Isolated daytime urinary frequency in childhood is a benign, self-limited condition.
- The etiology is likely behavioral, and extensive urological evaluation is generally not required.
- Management should focus on reassurance and observation, with further investigation only if nocturnal symptoms coexist.
Abstract:
We reviewed retrospectively 43 completely toilet trained children who suddenly developed isolated daytime urinary frequency. Patient age ranged from 2 to 12 years. The condition lasted 2 days to 16 months and resolved spontaneously in all patients. The recurrence rate was 3 per cent unless nocturnal symptoms of nocturia or enuresis coexisted, whereupon it increased to 40 per cent. Anticholinergic medication characteristically produced no improvement in symptoms. Noninvasive investigation included a history and physical examination, urinalysis and renal ultrasonography, and appeared to be sufficient for diagnosis. The etiology is unknown but it may be predominantly behavioral. The daytime urinary frequency syndrome of childhood appears to be a benign self-limited condition that does not require extensive urological evaluation.