title: Pathophysiology and impact of nocturnal enuresis.
abstract: Nocturnal enuresis in children is not a psychogenic disorder. It is caused by a hereditary delay in maturation of the somatic mechanisms (reduction of nocturnal urine production and a normal arousal to a full bladder) which prevent the child from wetting the bed. Traditionally, doctors treating bedwetting children have used an expectant attitude, because nocturnal enuresis has been looked upon as self-limiting and harmless. According to recent research this is not true. More than 5% of children and 0.5% of the adult population report nocturnal enuresis, meaning that 10% of enuretic children will remain bedwetters for life if left untreated, and nocturnal enuresis is perceived as a shameful condition, giving a significant impairment of self-esteem at an age when an intact self-image is extremely important for an optimal development of the child's personality. Treatment should be given when the enuretic child wants to sleep dry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hjälmås
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004775:Enuresis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008333:Mandelic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011141:Polyuria / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D012076:Renal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012649:Self Concept; D012752:Shame; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D008333:Mandelic Acids; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D012076:Renal Agents; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin; C005419:oxybutynin