[Alarm training also successful in 5 to 7 year olds with nocturnal enuresis]

Abstract

Objective: To determine how many bed-wetting children aged 5-7 years unlearn the habit using the alarm treatment.

Design: Descriptive.

Setting: TNO Prevention and Health, Leiden, the Netherlands.

Methods: The population consisted of all children aged 5 to 7 with nocturnal enuresis (defined as > or = 2 wettings per week) who ordered an Elther alarm set (Elther BV, Tilburg) in May or June 1996 (n = III). The parents and the child were asked to keep notes during the treatment of whether the child had remained dry and of whether the alarm had sounded. When at the time of cessation of the alarm training the results were insufficient, the parents were asked about the reason to stop. When the child had remained dry for 14 nights in succession (the definition of 'success'), a questionnaire was sent 6 months later to inquire if the child was still dry or had relapsed.

Results: The totals of success for children aged 5, 6 and 7 years were 70% (n = 7/10), 73% (n = 29/40) and 90% (n = 55/61), respectively. Seven-year-olds were significantly more successful than the children aged 5 or 6 (p = 0.02). No significant correlations were found between results of treatment and sex, the nature of the enuresis (purely functional or not), familial occurrence and frequency of bed-wetting at the start of the treatment. The average times until success were 53 days for the 5-year-olds (range: 31-78), 65 days for the 6-year-olds (26-154) and 59 for the 7-year-olds (17-141). The proportions of relapse after 6 months were 0%, 14% and 9%, respectively.

Conclusion: Alarm training with pad and buzzer appears to be a suitable method of treatment even for children younger than 8 years.