Hirschsprung’s Disease and Urinary Tract Infection: Unrecognized Association

Abstract

Constipation is associated with and may be an etiologic factor in recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in girls. To determine if an increased incidence of urinary infection occurs in constipating illness, we retrospectively analyzed UTI incidence in 146 patients with Hirschsprung’s disease. An increased incidence pre- and postoperatively was noted.

Relevance of Constipation to Enuresis, Urinary Tract Infection and Reflux

“…Normal bowel hab its were perceived by patients and parents even in the presence of proven rectal reservoirs of feces by rectal examination and rectal manometry and on occasion even with encopresis. White and Taylor [7] have also noted the frequent presence of constipation with urinary tract in fection as have Smellie et al [8], A retrospective analysis of the incidence of urinary tract infection in patients with Hirschprung's disease, a constipating entity, disclosed a much increased frequency of infection prior to and after surgery [9]. An increased incidence of bacteruria occurs in rats with fecal retention [10].…”

Urinary tract dilatation in constipated children

“…One problem is that definitions of what constitutes constipation and its severity lack consistency, making comparisons difficult. It is generally agreed that there is a higher incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in both groups of children (Neuman et al, 1973;Yazbeck & O'Regan, 1986), particularly in girls (O'Regan et al, 1985). Functional constipation usually improves with time but decisions on treatment will be influenced by the potential for urinary tract infection.…”