2 research outputs found
Parental perceptions of bladder dysfunction in children with symptomatic joint hypermobility
Children with symptomatic joint hypermobility (SJH) report chronic pain, fatigue, and joint instability as their main symptoms. Symptoms can extend beyond musculoskeletal and include lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). There are no studies exploring parent-perceived quality of life (QoL) in children with LUTD, or strategies used to manage symptoms in this population. Our online cross-sectional survey assessed parents of 6โ18-year-olds via two UK charitable organizations. It included the Pediatric Incontinence Questionnaire (PinQ), the Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score, and questions exploring treatments and efficacy. Sixty-seven parental questionnaires were analyzed. The majority of children were white females (95%, n =โ64). Urgency (97%, n =โ65) and enuresis (41.7%, n =โ28) were the most frequently reported symptoms. The PinQ questionnaire showed that children were emotionally distressed by LUTD. Twenty-nine parents (43%, n =โ29) reported pharmacotherapy as the most effective treatment. Few had accessed other treatments such as physiotherapy (16%, n =โ18). Most parents reported that overall treatment did not meet their expectations. This study highlights that parents perceive LUTD as having a great impact on their child's QoL. There is need for education among clinicians about LUTD and hypermobility-related disorders, and for development and evaluation of treatments