Secondary enuresis: post-traumatic stress disorder in children after car accidents.
BACKGROUND
In our experience, secondary enuresis nocturna is a common complaint among children after a motor vehicle accident. However, as these children are often brought for examination as part of an insurance compensation claim, this complaint is not always reliable.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a series of children in whom secondary enuresis occurred after a motor vehicle accident.


RESULTS
Five children were brought to our clinic for evaluation of secondary nocturnal enuresis. Review of past history revealed a car accident preceding the onset of the enuresis. All but one had additional behavioral symptoms typical of post-traumatic stress disorder. Four children had evidence of head trauma, and one had psychological but no physical trauma.


CONCLUSIONS
Nocturnal enuresis can occur after a motor vehicle accident due either to purely psychological trauma or organic head trauma. While nocturnal enuresis is generally attributed to organic causes, psychological mechanisms also play a significant role.
Eidlitz-Markus
T
T
Department of Pediatric Day Care, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petah Tiqva, Israel.
Shuper
A
A
Amir
J
J
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications; D004775:Enuresis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology