Constipation, bladder instability, urinary tract infection syndrome.

Forty-seven children with recurrent urinary tract infection were noted to have large fecal reservoirs by rectal examination and rectal manometry. Constipation was accompanied in the majority by enuresis and/or encopresis. Urodynamic studies indicated uninhibited bladder contractions. Aggressive treatment of the constipation resulted in cessation of infection in 44 patients, enuresis in 22 of 32 patients and encopresis in 20 of 21 patients and an improvement in bladder function with cessation of all other forms of treatment.