All issues > Volume 51(11); 2008

Review Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2008;51(11):1136-1139. Published online November 15, 2008.

Urinary incontinence

Jung Won JW Lee¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Jung Won JW Lee ,Email: jwped@hallym.ac.kr

Abstract

The genitourinary tract and gastrointestinal system are interdependent but share the same embryological origin, pelvic region, and sacral innervation. Although children with voiding disturbances often present with bowel dysfunction, this coexistence was considered coincidental until recently. However, it is now accepted that dysfunction in emptying of both systems is interrelated. Afferent impulses carrying sensory information are transmitted through the spinal cord and brainstem toward several cortical and subcortical areas, resulting in conscious control of the bladder and bowel. Alteration in these afferent pathways can result in dysfunction, including urinary and fecal incontinence. Distal gastrointestinal tract problems such as constipation might induce an inhibitory rectovesical reflex that interferes with normal voiding. Therefore, lower urinary tract function seems to be closely associated with distal gastrointestinal tract function.

Keywords :Urinary incontinence, Bladder, Constipation