Purpose: To describe the prevalence of bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) in 8-10-year-old children with cerebral palsy and its association with motor, cognitive, and autonomic dysfunction.
Methods: A cross-sectional, random sample study of parents of 8-10-year-old children with cerebral palsy. Tools: The Enuresis/Urinary Incontinence Parental Questionnaire, the Functional Independence Measure children's version, the autonomic signs questionnaire, and the Gross Motor Function Classification System.
Results: 39 out of 59 parents consented to participate, whereas 25.64% reported complete continence. Of the 29 children with BBD, 21 (72.4%) had lower urinary tract symptoms and bowel problems. Only two of the children received conservative and noninvasive treatments. Lastly, motor, cognitive and autonomic impairments were associated with incontinence.
Conclusions: BBD is common in 8-10-year-old children with cerebral palsy at all levels of functioning. Most having both lower urinary tract symptoms and bowel problems.
Keywords: Bladder dysfunction; bowel dysfunction; cerebral palsy; prevalence.