Prevalence of Functional Lower Urinary Tract Voiding Dysfunction in School-Aged Children

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is classified as a storage and voiding symptoms. Storage symptoms are increased or decreased urinary frequency, urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, and nocturia. Voiding symptoms are classified as hesitation, straining, weak stream, and intermittency. Other symptoms are holding maneuvers, feeling of incomplete emptying, postmicturition dribble, and genital and lower urinary tract pain. Constipation and/or fecal incontinence are closely related to LUTD, among children over 5 years due to functional or nonorganic causes.

The exact prevalence of the lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is unknown, approximately 20% to 30% of children in the world have symptoms associated with voiding disorders. In epidemiological studies, this ratio is between 2.1% and 19.2% in school-age children.Due to the modern lifestyle, the prevalence increases secondary to changes in toilet training and habits.

Inclusion criteria

• Children aged 4-14 years old in our locality.

Exclusion criteria

• Children with known anatomical anomalies of urinary tract
• Children with known neurological anomalies (spinal dysraphism, multiple sclerosis, lumbar or spinal neuritis……… etc)
• Children with history of back or lower urinary tract trauma
• Parents who refuse participation