Acupuncture therapy in the management of persistent primary nocturnal enuresis--preliminary results

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the comparative therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese acupuncture.

Material and methods: During the period from January 1997 to April 1999, 50 children (23 boys, 17 girls) suffering from primary persistent nocturnal enuresis, aged 9-18 years, were included in the study. The response rate was monitored at 2 and 4 weeks, and then every 3 months by recording dry nights on a calendar.

Results: The efficacy of treatment, which was expressed as a percentage of dry nights, was high. Within 6 months, 43 (86%) patients were completely dry and 2 (10%) patients were dry on at least 80% of nights.

Conclusions: Treatment using acupuncture in patients with persistent enuresis nocturna appeared to be most efficacious both in terms of the percentage of dry nights at the end of treatment and in relation to the stability of results, even after the end of the study.