[Enuresis and encopresis: their relationship]

The incidence and types of enuresis in 113 encopretic children were studied. The sex ratio was 5.17 males to every 1 female. Half of the patients were enuretics (50.44%). Of these, 78.9% were primary and secondary enuretics. No primary encopretic manifested secondary enuresis. The ratio of primary to secondary enuresis (3.75:1) in children with encopresis was much lower than in the population of enuretics. Of the enuretic encopretics, 40.34% had mixed or diurnal bladder incontinence. The results emphasize the role of peripheral dysfunctions and constipation-encopresis in the etiology of some enuresis. The therapeutic implications of these findings are also discussed.