Bowel and bladder dysfunction, including constipation, infrequent voiding and holding, is one of the commonest causes of recurrent urinary infection in toilet-trained children. It is often missed because nobody asks.
Ask how often the child passes urine and stool, whether there is urgency, holding or wetting, and what the stools are like. Treating constipation and setting regular voiding can stop recurrences without further imaging or prophylaxis.
- Ask about stool frequency and consistency, using a stool chart if helpful.
- Ask about urgency, holding manoeuvres, daytime wetting and how often the child voids.
- Treat constipation fully and agree a regular voiding routine.
- Review recurrence after bowel and bladder habits have been addressed.
Why it matters
It is common, treatable and often the real cause of recurrence.
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