URINARY INCONTINENCE IN CHILDREN WITH PRIMARY VESICOURETERAL REFLUX

The interrelation among urinary incontinence (nocturnal enuresis, urge incontinence), history of urinary tract infection and renal function was investigated in 153 children with primary vesicoureteral reflux who were more than three years old. Of them, 98 children (64%) had the chief complaint of urinary tract infection (UTI) and 43 children (28%), urinary incontinence. Of the children whose chief complaint was UTI, 44 (45%) had incontinence. Thus, 87 children (57%) with VUR had urinary incontinence. Almost all the children who had urinary incontinence and no previous UTI had good renal function. Renal dysfunction was found in children with previous UTI history. These studies on children with primary VUR more than three years old indicate that, although urinary incontinence could be a factor for recurrence of UTI and a probable cause of worsening of renal function, there is no direct correlation between urinary incontinence and renal dysfunction accompanied by VUR.