Alarm treatment is successful in children with day- and night-time wetting.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of alarm treatment in children with day- and night-time wetting compared to those with night-time wetting only.


METHODS
A total of 37 consecutive children (25 boys, 12 girls), all of whom suffered from both day- and night-time wetting, were compared to a group of 21 boys and 16 girls with nocturnal enuresis only. In both groups the age range was 5-13 years. Inclusion criteria were at least two wet nights a week in the previous 4 weeks combined with day-time wetting. The parents were asked to complete a diary during the study period.


RESULTS
Sixty-five percent of the children with day- and night-time wetting became dry at night, the average time needed being 49 days (range 22-134 days). Seventy-six percent of the children with only night-time wetting became dry at night, the average time needed being 52 days (range 22-121 days). No significant differences were found between the success rates for the two groups or between the different age groups in the two groups. Of the children with day- and night-time wetting who became dry at night after alarm treatment, 42% also became dry during the day-time. Two years after alarm treatment, 15/16 traced children were still dry at night and all 10 traced children were still dry during the day-time.


CONCLUSIONS
As with children with only night-time wetting, the majority of children with day- and night-time wetting become dry at night with the use of an enuresis alarm. The results are good compared to the spontaneous cure rate. By using alarm treatment at night, children often also become dry during the day.
Van Leerdam
Frank J M
FJ
Department of Social Medicine, Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. FJM.vanLeerdam@vumc.nl
Blankespoor
Matthea N
MN
Van Der Heijden
Albert J
AJ
Hirasing
Remy A
RA
Hiraing
Remy A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D001143:Arousal; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004775:Enuresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome