title: Prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms in school-age children.
abstract: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated rates of incontinence and enuresis as high as 20% in school-age children. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms in 739 children aged 6-12 years enrolled in three government schools with different socioeconomic levels in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Symptoms of LUT were evaluated using a modified version of the Dysfunction Voiding Scoring System in which the cutoff point considered as an indicator of LUT dysfunction is >6 for girls and >9 for boys. Children with a score indicative of symptoms received an educational booklet on the functioning of the LUT and were sent for clinical evaluation. LUT dysfunction symptoms were detected in 161 (21.8%) children. Symptoms were most frequent in girls (p < 0.001), children aged 6-8 (p < 0.028), and attended the school with the lowest social level (p < 0.001). Intestinal constipation was the most prevalent finding (30.7%), independent of LUT score. The most common urinary symptoms in children with an elevated score were diurnal urinary incontinence (30.7%), holding maneuvers (19.1%), and urinary urgency (13.7%). Stress factors were associated in 28.4% of children. Our findings suggest that LUT symptoms must be investigated carefully at routine pediatric visits.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Rua Piauí, 933 apt 502, Belo Horizonte, MG 30150-320, Brazil.
authors.forename: Giovana T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: Monica M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Eduardo A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Aline L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Paula G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.forename: Fabiana M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Eleonora M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires