Urologic Diseases Research Updates
Fall 2008

Additional Resources

Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome

People with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) usually have pain when the bladder fills and empties. Although the pain might disappear for weeks or even months, it then returns. Finding a proper diagnosis for IC/PBS can be frustrating because symptoms can resemble those of other conditions.

An easy-to-read booklet from the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) helps people understand the difference between IC/PBS and other sources of bladder pain. What I need to know about Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome explains the tests and treatments for IC/PBS, including bladder retraining, physical therapy, physical activity, stress reduction, medication, bladder stretching, nerve stimulation, and surgery. The booklet is available at www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/interstitialcystitis_ez.

Children and Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect about 3 percent of children in the United States annually. Throughout childhood, the risk of having a UTI is 2 percent for boys and 8 percent for girls. UTIs account for more than 1 million visits to pediatricians’ offices each year.

A booklet from the NKUDIC explains the symptoms of UTIs, how doctors diagnose and treat them, and how to prevent them. Symptoms of UTIs are not always obvious to parents, and younger children are usually unable to describe how they feel. However, recognizing and treating UTIs are important because lack of treatment can lead to serious and even life-threatening kidney problems. What I need to know about My Child’s Urinary Tract Infection, an easy-to-read publication, is available at www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/utichildren_ez.

Prostatitis

Prostatitis: Disorders of the Prostate describes the four types of prostatitis: acute bacterial prostatitis, chronic bacterial prostatitis, chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis. Prostatitis, or inflammation of the prostate, is an often painful condition that affects mostly young and middle-aged men. Symptoms—which include painful or burning urination and incomplete bladder emptying—can vary or mimic signs of other illnesses, making diagnosis difficult. This NKUDIC fact sheet also explains how doctors diagnose and treat prostatitis. For a copy of the fact sheet, go to www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/prostatitis.

New Interactive Tools

New to the Interactive Health Education Tools section of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website is

Streaming Audio

• Researchers Seeking Children for a Urinary Tract Disorder Study

The website’s interactive tools section consolidates all the tools and resources about urologic diseases from the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine. To access these resources, visit www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov/resources/HealthTools.

NIH Publication No. 09–5743
December 2008

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