Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 May 31;8(4):e35809.
doi: 10.5812/numonthly.35809. eCollection 2016 Jul.

Primary Nocturnal Enuresis: A Review

Ersan Arda  1 , Basri Cakiroglu  1 , David T Thomas  2
Affiliations
Review

Primary Nocturnal Enuresis: A Review

Ersan Arda et al. Nephrourol Mon. .

Abstract

Context: Nocturnal enuresis or bedwetting is the most common type of urinary incontinence in children. It has significant psychological effects on both the child and the family. Enuresis nocturna is defined as the inability to hold urine during the night in children who have completed toilet training. It is termed as being "primary" if no continence has ever been achieved or "secondary if it follows at least 6 months of dry nights. The aim of this review was to assemble the pathophysiological background and general information about nocturnal enuresis.

Evidence acquisition: This review was performed by evaluating the literature on nocturnal enuresis published between 1970 and 2015, available via PubMed and using the keywords "nocturnal enuresis," "incontinence," "pediatric," "review," and "treatment."

Results: Children with nocturnal enuresis produce urine at higher rates during the night, and may have lower bladder capacities. Some children with nocturnal enuresis may also have daytime urgency, frequency, and urinary incontinence. Treatment includes aggressive treatment of accompanying constipation or urinary tract infections, behavioral changes, and medical therapy. Alarm therapy remains the first-line treatment modality for primary nocturnal enuresis. High rates of patient compliance and relapse mean that alternative treatments remain on the agenda.

Conclusions: Nocturnal enuresis is a common problem that has multifaceted effects on both the child and the family. Due to multiple etiologic factors, nocturnal enuresis is still not clearly defined.

Keywords: Incontinence; Nocturnal Enuresis; Pediatric; Review; Treatment.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Neveus T, von Gontard A, Hoebeke P, Hjalmas K, Bauer S, Bower W, et al. The standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function in children and adolescents: report from the Standardisation Committee of the International Children's Continence Society. J Urol. 2006;176(1):314–24. doi: 10.1016/S0022-5347(06)00305-3. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Tas T, Cakiroglu B, Hazar AI, Balci MB, Sinanoglu O, Nas Y, et al. Monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis caused by seasonal temperature changes. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2014;7(4):1035–9. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Cakiroglu B, Tas T, Eyyupoglu SE, Hazar AI, Can Balci MB, Nas Y, et al. The adverse influence of spina bifida occulta on the medical treatment outcome of primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis. Arch Ital Urol Androl. 2014;86(4):270–3. doi: 10.4081/aiua.2014.4.270. - DOI - PubMed
    1. von Gontard A, Heron J, Joinson C. Family history of nocturnal enuresis and urinary incontinence: results from a large epidemiological study. J Urol. 2011;185(6):2303–6. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2011.02.040. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Safarinejad MR. Prevalence of nocturnal enuresis, risk factors, associated familial factors and urinary pathology among school children in Iran. J Pediatr Urol. 2007;3(6):443–52. doi: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2007.06.001. - DOI - PubMed