Continence problems in children can persist into later childhood and have a serious effect on quality of life. Research into its causes and impact is scarce, and useful resources are limited. A Medical Research Council grant is funding a project at the University of Bristol, which aims to improve understanding of the risk factors and outcomes of continence problems in children and adolescents. This article outlines the initial findings, which could help in the production of resources for parents, children and young people.

Continence problems – bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and soiling – affect about 900,000 children and young people in the UK (Paediatric Continence Forum, 2014). Structural or anatomic causes are rare; instead, they are thought to be heterogeneous disorders involving a complex interrelationship of biological, developmental, genetic and environmental factors.

The full article is available here.