Evaluation of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms inChildren Exposed to Sexual Abuse

PURPOSE: To evaluate the lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in children that are exposed to sexual abuse.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients, including 8 male and 44 female children/adolescents presented with sexual abuse to the outpatient clinics were evaluated retrospectively (group 1). In group 1, the subjects were categorizedinto sexual touch (n = 35) and sexual penetration (n = 17). All the patients were evaluated with a detailed medical history, physical examination, and a dysfunctional voiding and incontinence scoring system questionnaire. Thirty age-matched children were evaluated as a control group (group 2).RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 12.2 ± 3.6 years and 12.0 ± 4.5 years in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = .848). The mean age of the subjects in sexual touch and sexual penetration groups was 10.8 ± 3.6 years and 14.9 ± 1.5 years, respectively. The difference between sexual touch and sexual penetration groups was statistically significant (P = .0001). The incontinence rate was 30.76% and 23.3% in groups 1 and 2, respectively. This difference was not statistically significant (P = .640). The rates of daytime incontinence,nocturnal enuresis, diurnal incontinence, urgency, and continence maneuverswere 25.7%, 17.1%, 22.9%, 42.9%, and 20%, respectively, in sexual touch group,while they were found to be 5.9%, 0%, 0%, 17.6%, and 5.9%, respectively,in sexual penetration group.CONCLUSION: Although a significant association was not detected betweensexual abuse and LUTS, it was seen that LUTS, such as urinary incontinenceand urgency, were higher in children exposed to sexual abuse than the controlgroup.