Related Experiment Videos
Childhood enuresis: prevalence, perceived impact, and prescribed treatments
Insights
Childhood enuresis affects 14% of children, with boys more commonly experiencing it. Many children and parents experience distress, yet effective treatments like bed alarms are underutilized.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Urology
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood enuresis (bedwetting) can range from developmental immaturity to serious urinary tract issues.
- Understanding the prevalence and impact of enuresis is crucial for appropriate management.
- Previous research highlights the need for effective and accessible treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and frequency of childhood enuresis in a general population.
- To assess the perceived impact of enuresis on children and their parents.
- To investigate physician-prescribed treatments for childhood enuresis.
Main Methods:
- A large population-based study surveyed parents of 1,753 children aged 5 to 13 years.
- Data collected included enuresis presence, frequency, perceived distress, and treatments received.
- Statistical analysis compared enuresis rates between genders and explored treatment patterns.
Main Results:
- 14% of children experienced enuresis at least once in a 3-month period.
- Boys had a higher prevalence (16%) than girls (12%).
- Over half of affected children and two-thirds of parents reported distress; bed alarms were prescribed to only 3% of treated children.
Conclusions:
- Childhood enuresis is a common condition impacting a significant portion of children and families.
- There is a notable discrepancy between recommended treatments and actual physician prescribing patterns.
- Further research and improved clinical practice are needed to address the distress and under-treatment of childhood enuresis.
Abstract:
Childhood enuresis can indicate an underlying problem as benign as developmental immaturity or as serious as urinary tract obstruction. As part of a large population-based study, parents of 1,753 children aged 5 to 13 years were asked about the presence and frequency of enuresis, perceived impact, and physician-prescribed treatments. Enuresis at least once during a 3-month period was reported for 14% of this general population of children. Boys were significantly more likely to experience enuresis than girls (16% v 12%; P less than .01). The prevalence of enuresis at least once a week was similar among boys and girls (7% v 6%). Parents reported that more than half of the children are distressed by their enuresis, and two thirds of parents expressed concern. Thirty-eight percent of bed wetters have seen a physician about their condition. More than one third of these children have been treated with a drug. The most commonly recommended regimen in the literature, the bed alarm, was prescribed to only 3% of bed-wetting children who saw a physician.