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Urinary tract infections and diurnal incontinence in girls
1Department of Paediatrics, Kolding Hospital, Denmark.
Insights
This study found that urinary tract infections (UTI) can cause diurnal incontinence (DIC) in girls. However, diurnal incontinence does not appear to lead to urinary tract infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Urology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI) and diurnal incontinence (DIC) are common in girls.
- The etiological relationship between UTI and DIC requires further clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential relationship between urinary tract infections and diurnal incontinence in girls.
- To determine if UTI can cause DIC or if DIC can lead to UTI.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 251 girls aged 4 years or older with a history of recurrent UTI and/or DIC was studied.
- Follow-up averaged 35 months, during which the incidence of UTI and DIC was recorded.
- The temporal relationship between infection and incontinence onset was analyzed.
Main Results:
- 44% of girls experienced both UTI and DIC, 20% had only infections, 16% had only DIC, and 20% had neither.
- In 19% of cases with infections, DIC was initiated by the UTI, with most girls being continent prior to infection.
- When girls remained infection-free for 6-12 months, DIC frequency did not change.
Conclusions:
- The study found no evidence that diurnal incontinence leads to urinary tract infections.
- Conversely, urinary tract infections were found to cause diurnal incontinence in some cases and suggested in others.
- These findings suggest a unidirectional relationship where UTI may precede and potentially cause DIC.
Abstract:
To evaluate a possible relationship between urinary tract infections (UTI) and diurnal incontinence (DIC), we studied 251 girls aged 4 years or more who were referred with a history of recurrent UTI and/or DIC. During follow up (mean 35 months), 110 girls (44%) had both UTI and DIC, 50 (20%) only infections, and 41 (16%) only DIC whereas 50 (20%) had neither infection nor DIC. In 110 girls with infections occurring with intervals of at least 6 and 12 months, DIC was definitively initiated by infection on 32 (19%) occasions. Most girls were continent before the infection occurred. When the girls remained free of infection for 6 or 12 months respectively, the frequency of DIC remained unchanged. In conclusion, no support for the concept of DIC leading to UTI was obtained, whereas the reverse was found in some cases and suggested in others.