Micturition habits and incontinence in 7-year-old Swedish school entrants

Abstract

The prevalence of incontinence in children has been extensively studied, but knowledge of other bladder symptoms is lacking in a healthy child population. The micturition habits of 3556 7-year-old school entrants were surveyed by a questionnaire supplemented by telephone interviews. One or more symptoms of a disturbed bladder function was reported in 26%, but most of these had moderate urgency as a sign of incomplete voluntary bladder control. Isolated bedwetting occurred in 2.8% of the girls and 7.0% of the boys, whereas nocturnal incontinence combined with daytime wetting was equally common in both sexes, 2.3% and 2.0% respectively. Diurnal incontinence was reported in 6.0% of the girls and 3.8% of the boys and was usually combined with other symptoms. The frequency of micturition in children without symptoms of bladder disturbance and with no previous urinary tract infection was 3–7 times per day.