Prevalência de sintomas do trato urinário inferior em 739 crianças de 6 a 12anos

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of symptoms of voiding dysfunction in schoolchildren. Subjects and Methods: Transversal delineation, including 739 children between 6 to 12 year of age, registered in three public schools in Minas Gerais state, Brazil, with different socioeconomic levels. Symptoms were investigated using the lower urinary dysfunction questionnaire created by Farhat et al. adapted the childrens speech modified by the addition of two questions on nocturnal enuresis. Scores above nine (for boys) and six (for girls) wereconsidered indicative of symptoms. These children received an educative book about the lower urinary tract functioning and were advised to perform a clinical evaluation. Results: Symptoms of lower urinary tract dysfunction were detected in 161 (21.8%) children. Symptoms were more frequent in girls (p= 0,028), in children between 6 to 8 years of age(p<0,001) and in those attending schools situated in high risk area (p<0,001). Intestinal constipation was the most common symptom (30,7%) among the children, independent of the score value. The most common urinary symptoms reported were: diurnal urinary incontinence(30,7%), holding maneuvers (19,1%) and urinary urgency (13,7%). Emotional distress factors were reported in 28.4% of children. Enuresis was detected in 110 children and classified as monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis in 25 (22,5%), and as non- monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis in 85 (77.5%). Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms among of school age children, especially in those belonging to the lower social economic level.Therefore, these symptoms should be carefully investigated in clinical practice.