[Management of primary nocturnal enuresis in school children with slow learning ability: usefulness of imipramine]

Abstract

A comparative, longitudinal, blind prospective study was carried out in 20 students between the ages of 6 and sixteen with primary nocturnal bedwetting and slow learning abilities from the Fray Antonio Alcalde school, in order to evaluate the use of motivating reinforcement techniques, exercises in order to improve bladder function and treatment with imipramine. All of the patients were given motivation reinforcement and bladder exercises. They were later divided into two groups of 10 children; group A was given a placebo while group B was given imipramine. In group A a significant decrease was seen in the average number of days the children woke wet after the sixth month of treatment (13.2 +/- 9.7 days to 3.7 +/- 7.15 days) with P less than 0.05; and in group B since the fourth month (16.6 +/- 7.8 days to 8.1 +/- 8.3 days) with a P less than 0.05. At the end of the study, seven patients from group A and five patients from group B decreased in over 80% the number of days which they woke up wet. The motivating reinforcement and the exercises used to improve bladder functional capacity are useful in the management of primary nocturnal enuresis. Imipramine, when combined with these other routines can shorten the time towards a favorable response.