Enuresis: epidemiological study in moroccan children

Enuresis is a common symptom that leads to significant psychosocial sequalae. In this study we analyzed three surveys in three different urban and suburban regions in Morocco in order to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and profiles of the young patients who had enuresis and the attitudes of their parents towards this problem. There were 1,520 children and adolescents in this analysis whose age ranged between 5 and 15 years. They were attending various outpatient surgical and medical clinics when their parents were asked to answer a pre-prepared questionnaire. The prevalence of enuresis was 35% with preponderance of males (54%). The cause could not be defined (primary) in 91.5% of the patients with enuresis. There were familial factors associated with enuresis that included history of enuresis in the parents or siblings in 56% of the cases and coercion attitude of the parents in 23%. Enuresis was associated with impediment of learning in 23% and chastisement of children in 85.4% of the cases. Twenty three percent of the patients also had chronic organic disorders. The parents were concerned mostly when the children approached puberty or when enuresis was secondary to another problem. Spontaneous improvement was the rule by adolescence, hence only 8.7% sought medical advice for enuresis. Treatment was conventional in 67% of the cases and confined to restriction of fluids and food items in 73% of the treated patients. We conclude that enuresis is apparently higher in Moroccan children compared to reports from other countries. However, enuresis was not considered a major medical problem of concern to parents who rarely sought medical advice for it.