RESUMO
Background: Posterior urethral valves (PUV) is a common cause of bladder outlet obstruction in the male infant; child or adolescent. Early diagnosis is important in order to prevent renal damage. Aim: To highlight delays in early diagnosis as a result of changing dressing habits-use of diapers in children.Methods: A retrospective review of 20 patients with posterior urethral valves seen by the author over a period of five years (1999-2003) at a private radiological diagnostic centre in Port Harcourt. Results: In the period under review; 208 patients had cystourethrography in the centre. Of these; 35(16) were paediatric patients. Twenty(57) of the paediatric patients had posterior urethral valves and all the patients were males. Majority of the patients (85) were seen in the first two years of life. All the patients presented with abdominal distension. Five of the patients whose mothers were primips were not able to describe the pattern of urine flow from the children as they always had diapers on. Diverticulum was seen in five patients (25) and these were aged one year and above.Conclusion: Posterior urethral valves is a common cause of bladder outlet obstruction in male children. Diverticulum; a complication of bladder outlet obstruction was common. Use of diapers and poor education may contribute to delays in diagnosis. Early diagnosis is important to prevent end-stage renal failure