Related Experiment Videos
Bladder function and non-neurogenic dysfunction in children: classification and terminology
P Hoebeke1, E Van Laecke, A Raes
1Paediatric Uro-Nephrological Centre, (PUNC), Department of Urology, University Hospital, Gent.
Insights
Pediatric urinary tract development involves complex neurological and physical maturation. Early potty training can lead to functional urinary dysfunction and incontinence in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Child Development
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Child urinary tract function differs significantly from adults, evolving during the first five years.
- Maturation of the urinary tract involves neurological inhibition, physical growth, and cognitive development.
- Congenital structural abnormalities can impede normal urinary tract development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the complexities of pediatric urological development.
- To identify factors contributing to functional urinary dysfunction in children.
- To highlight the significance of urinary incontinence in pediatric urology.
Main Methods:
- Review of pediatric urological development principles.
- Analysis of factors influencing bladder-bowel control.
- Examination of the impact of early training on urinary function.
Main Results:
- Inadequate maturation or premature training can cause non-structural functional urinary dysfunction.
- Urinary incontinence is the primary symptom of urinary tract maldevelopment in children.
- Increased instances of functional urinary dysfunction are observed due to societal pressures for early potty training.
Conclusions:
- Adequate anatomical and neurological maturation is essential before initiating potty training.
- Premature training can inadvertently lead to functional urinary problems.
- Urinary incontinence remains a prevalent issue in pediatric urology practice.
Abstract:
Urological function and dysfunction in children are different from function and dysfunction in adults. The dynamics of the urinary tract in children are more complex as development from simple reflex controlled infant bladder to mature bladder function takes place during the first five years of live. The most crucial event in this development is the maturation of the inhibition that takes place in the growing urinary tract. Apart from gaining neurological control over de lower urinary tract there is the physical growth of the bladder-sfincter unit. Otherwise in children there exist a large amount of structural organic congenital pathology of the lower urinary tract that can trouble the normal development. Finally there is the cognitive function that has no anatomical substrate in the lower urinary tract but which takes place in the central nervous system and which is influenced by training and which can play a major role in development of non structural functional dysfunction. In order to train a child adequately the anatomical structure needs to have undergone enough maturation. By training a child on a too early age one can help to develop non structural functional dysfunction. In a time where competition in dry-training is encouraged by commercial pressure and where parents have less time, so that they are urged to train their children dry, more and more non-structural functional dysfunction in children is seen. The most prominent symptom of maldevelopment of the urinary tract, be it structural or functional is urinary incontinence. It is the most common problem seen in the paediatric urology practice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)