Abstract
Nocturnal enuresis has troubled parents and physicians at least since the 16th century. Theories as to its cause and cure have varied with the fad and fashion of the times and, until recent years, most studies have remarkable principally for sampling bias and lack of controls. Myths which have been recently discarded include those relating it to deep sleep, lack of early toilet training, spina bifida occulta, low intelligence or common behavior problems. The present investigations of renal disease in school children presented a unique opportunity to evaluate the role of abnormal urinary findings in enuretic children and their non-enuretic classmates as well as re-examination of its association with sex, ethnic group, socio-economic level, birth order and mother's level of education and martial status.
The prevalence of current bed-wetting for 6- to 10-year-old children was noted to be 18% for girls and 24% for boys (p < 0.001); and to differ significantly by ethnic group for girls but not for boys; by socio-economic level and family size for boys but not for girls; and for both sexes by mother's education but not by the other demographic characteristics examined. For girls, prevalence of significant bacteriuria increased in association with both presence and frequency of current enuresis (p < 0.005) and past complaint of dysuria (p < 0.025). No significant difference for prevalence of proteinuria in boys or girls was noted when analyzed by current enuresis or past complaint of dysuria.
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Dodge, W., West, E. & Travis, L. Nocturnal Enuresis: Correlation with Bacteriuria, Proteinuria and Dysuria. Pediatr Res 4, 450 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197009000-00064
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197009000-00064