Nocturnal enuresis in children

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of bedwetting in children aged 6-10 years of age and to investigate parental knowledge and attitudes toward children who suffer from nocturnal enuresis. Research was conducted during the spring of 2002 by sending home a questionnaire to randomly selected parents of Kindergarten, 1st Grade and 4th Grade students in a large school district in northwestern Wisconsin. Research indicated that most children achieve normal continence by the age of five to six years. Bed-wetting at night is not considered significant until a child is older than six years of age and has either established dryness and is experiencing a relapse as in secondary nocturnal enuresis or has never established dryness such as in primary nocturnal enuresis. Research also indicated that enuresis is prevalent in 7% to 20% of males and 3 % of females ranging from ages 5 to 7 years of age. At age 10, the prevalence is 3% in males and 2% in females. Typically by the age of 15, most children have outgrown bedwetting. In most cases the cause of bed-wetting is unknown. Upon completion of this study the researcher found a higher prevalence of bedwetting behavior among the respondents than research indicated. Parental attitude toward bedwetting was found to be very supportive. Although parental knowledge of the cause of bed-wetting was limited, their reaction to it was positive and supportive.