OCCULT AND SEMI-OCCULT CONSTIPATION IN CHILDREN WITH MONOSYMPTOMATIC OR NON MONOSYMPTOMATIC ENURESIS

ABSTRACT Background: Functional constipation and enuresis frequently coexist. Constipation treatment often results in resolution or improvement of the enuresis. However, besides the classical presentation, patients can present with occult constipation (OC) diagnosed in complementary evaluation; in addition, semi-occult constipation (SOC) can be detected by means of a detailed questionnaire. Objective: To quantify OC and SOC frequency in children with monosymptomatic or non monosymptomatic enuresis (MNE or NMNE). Methods: Otherwise healthy children/adolescents, with enuresis refractory to behavioral therapy and denying constipation after simple questions, answered a structured bowel habit questionnaire and were submitted to a plain abdominal radiological exam. Constipation was classified considering the Boston diagnostic criteria (to allow diagnosis at initial stages), and fecal loading in the X-ray quantified ≥10 by the Barr score. Children with constipation received a standardized treatment (except 26 “pilot” children). Results: Out of 81 children, 80 aged 9.34±2.07 years, 52.5% male, were diagnosed with constipation: 30 OC, 50 SOC; 63.75% had MNE, 36.25% NMNE (six NMNE without behavioral therapy). Demographic data and the Barr score were similar for OC and SOC, but SOC children experienced significantly more constipation complications (retentive fecal incontinence and/or recurrent abdominal pain). Not showing the Bristol Stool Scale (BSS) to 24 “pilot” children, or absence of constipation symptoms accompanying BSS predominantly type 3, in 13 children, did not significantly impact the detection of constipation by the Barr score. Children identifying BSS 3 or ≤2 had similar results. Twenty-eight children, with adequate follow-up after treatment, improved or recovered from constipation at 44 of their 52 follow-up visits. Conclusion: In patients with MNE or NMNE refractory to behavioral therapy, and who initially denied constipation after simple questions, a detailed questionnaire based on the Boston diagnostic criteria detected SOC in 61.7%, and the radiological Barr score revealed fecal loading (OC) in 37.0% of them

EMG Biofeedback or parasacral transcutaneous eletrical nerve stimulation in children with lower urinary tract dysfunction: study prospective randomized

INTRODUÇÃO: A disfunção do trato urinário inferior (DTUI) pode decorrer de contrações vesicais durante a fase de enchimento (hiperatividade do detrusor) ou a falta de coordenação entre a contração vesical e o relaxamento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico durante o esvaziamento vesical (disfunção miccional). Várias publicações sugerem benefícios do uso de biofeedback eletromiográfico (EMG) e eletroestimulação transcutânea parassacral (ENTP) no tratamento destas condições. Contudo faltam estudos controlados comparando estas duas formas de tratamento. OBJETIVO: Comparar a eficácia das técnicas de biofeedback EMG e ENTP em crianças com DTUI. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo e randomizado com 64 crianças, sendo 43 meninas e 21 meninos com idade média 9,39 anos. As crianças foram divididas em dois grupos de tratamento: grupo biofeedback (GB) e grupo de ENTP (GE). Os critérios para avaliar a eficácia do tratamento foram a taxa de resolução dos sintomas noturnos e diurnos, comprovados por diário miccional, urofluxometria, questionários (DVSS - Dysfunction voiding symptoms score), avaliação da qualidade de vida (QV), melhora da constipação e do número de episódios de infecção do trato urinário (ITU).RESULTADOS: No GB 54,9% das crianças tiveram resposta completa e no GE 60,6% em relação a melhora diurna (p=0,483) e 29,6% e 25% em relação a melhora noturna respectivamente (p=0,461). Em relação ao diário miccional, urofluxometria e DVSS, ambos os grupos tiveram melhora estatisticamente significante (p=0,001), porém a QV não teve diferença entre os grupos (p=0,959 e p=0,065). Na avaliação da constipação, houve decréscimo no GB de 61,3% para 19,4% (p=0,002) e no GE de 33,3% para 6,2% (p=0,013). Nenhuma criança apresentou ITU após o término do tratamento (p < 001). CONCLUSÃO: O biofeedback EMG e a ENTP são efetivos para o tratamento de DTUI.Esta eficácia se traduz por melhora dos sintomas diurnos e noturnos bem como na avaliação feita por questionário e urofluxometria. Ambas as técnicas se mostrarm eficazes, embora o biofeedback tenha requerido um menor número de sessõesINTRODUCTION: The lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) may be due to bladder contractions during the filling phase (detrusor overactivity) or the lack of coordination between bladder contraction and relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles during bladder emptying (voiding dysfunction ). Several publications have suggested benefits of using electromyographic biofeedback (EMG) and parasacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) in treating these conditions. However there is a lack of controlled studies comparing these two forms of treatment. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of EMG biofeedback and parasacral TENS techniques in children with DTUI. METHODS: A prospective and randomized study with 64 children, 43 girls and 21 boys, mean age 9.39 years. The children were divided into two treatment groups: biofeedback group and parasacral TENS. The criteria for assessing the effectiveness of techniques were the rate of resolution of daytime and nighttime symptoms, improvements in voiding diary, uroflowmetry and questionnaires. (DVSS - Dysfunction voiding symptoms score). We also acessed changes in quality of life (QOL) constipation and number of episodes of lower urinary tract infection (UTI). RESULTS: GB 54.9% of children had complete response in EMG biofeedback group and 60.6% in those treated by parasacral TENS in daytime symptoms (p = 0.483) and 29.6% and 25% in night time respectively (p = 0.461). Regarding the voiding diary, uroflowmetry and DVSS, both groups had statistically significant improvement (p = 0.001), but the QOL showed no difference between groups (p = 0.959 and p = 0.065). In the evaluation of constipation, there was a decrease in EMG biofeedback group 61.3% to 19.4% (p = 0.002) and in parasacral TENS group 33.3% to 6.2% (p = 0.013). No child had UTI after the end of treatment (p <.001). CONCLUSION: EMG biofeedback and the parasacral TENS are effective for treating DTUI. This efficiency translates into improved daytime and nighttime symptoms as well as in the evaluation made by questionnaire and uroflowmetry. Both techniques showed excellent results, although biofeedback required a fewer number of session

Pediatric incontinence questionnaire (PINQ): translation and transcultural adaptation to Brazilian Portuguese

Objective: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect approximately 10% of children worldwide and are related to psychosocial manifestations and compromised quality of life, both for children and their families. The assessment of emotional conditions of LUTS in children is recommended by International Children's Continence Society; however, there is no specific instrument in the Brazilian Portuguese language. Therefore, the aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and assess the internal consistency of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Pediatric Incontinence Questionnaire (PINQ). Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was performed at two referral centers for childhood voiding dysfunction. The 20-item PINQ was translated into Brazilian Portuguese and culturally adapted according to Beaton, 2000. His-standard methodology consists of 6 phases: translation, synthesis, back-translation, expert committee, and pre-test. The internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Results: The PINQ-br version was developed, validated by a committee of experts, and pre-tested on 44 children diagnosed with lower urinary tract symptoms, 23 boys and 21 girls (mean age: 9.7 and 9.6 years old respectively), as well as on their parents. The internal consistency was considered satisfactory, reaching Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.74 when applied to children and 0.82 when applied to parents. Conclusions: The PINQ was translated and culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese to assess the impact of LUTS on the health-related quality of life in Brazilian children and adolescents