Psychogenic Urinary Retention in Children: A Case Report

• Published in: Pediatrics and neonatology 2010-10, Vol.51 (5), p.300-302
• Main Authors: Wan, Kong-Sang, Liu, Nai-Hsuan, Liu, Chih-Kuang, Hwang, I-Zen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the urinary system; Biological and medical sciences; Child; children; Female; General aspects; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Pediatrics; psychogenic urinary retention; Psychotherapy; Urinary Catheterization; Urinary Retention - etiology; Urinary Retention - therapy; Urinary system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; urinary tract infection; Urinary Tract Infections - complications; Urinary tract. Prostate gland
• ISSN: 1875-9572
• DOI: 10.1016/S1875-9572(10)60058-7

Psychogenic urinary retention occurs relatively infrequently in children and is less common than in adults. The influence of psychogenic factors on voiding generally results in an irritative syndrome, but rarely in urinary retention. A definitive diagnosis is established by excluding other pathological conditions. Evaluation includes urine culture, renal echography, spine magnetic resonance imaging, voiding cysto-urethrography, intravenous pyelography, and uroflowmetry. Here, we report on a 6-year-old girl with a 1-month history of voiding difficulty. Urology studies, including urine culture, revealed Escherichia coli , which was not present in preadmission urine cultures. Renal ultrasound and radiological images showed no gross abnormalities or vesicoureteral reflux, but uroflowmetry showed a low flow rate with residual urine. The results of imaging studies and pediatric psychiatric consultation led to a diagnosis of psychogenic urinary retention combined with urinary tract infection. Urinary rehabilitation included intermittent catheterization, bladder training, and supportive psychotherapy, after which the patient recovered and was discharged.