TOILET HABITS OF CHILDREN EVALUATED FOR URINARY-TRACT INFECTION

The toilet habits of 77 girls and 24 boys who were evaluated after hav ing a urinary tract infection were examined prospectively. Children wi th known urological conditions that can predispose to urinary tract in fections were excluded. A voiding cystourethrogram and renal ultrasoun d were performed, and a diary of toilet habits was obtained for all pa tients. Six children were lost to followup. Of the remaining 95 childr en imaging studies were negative in 60 (negative imaging group) and po sitive in 35 (positive imaging group). Only 10% of the negative imagin g group were without constipation or abnormal voiding compared to 60% of the positive imaging group (p = 0.0001). Toilet habits can affect t he development of urinary tract infections. Our data suggest that the evaluation of urinary tract infection should include an inquiry into t hese habits. Among children with negative imaging studies there may be functional problems that promote the development of urinary tract inf ections.