Elimination Disorders in Children

Childhood Enuresis

“…Others have characterized enuresis as a sleep disorder (Ferber, 1989). In a comprehensive summary of the literature on enuresis, Friman and Jones (1998) indicate recent studies showing that nocturnal wetting may be a function of thematically related dreams, difficulty awakening, amount of time spent in each stage of the sleep cycle, or insufficient levels of antidiuretic hormone at night.…”

“…Its high cost is also prohibitive for many. DDAVP, as it is known, is sprayed into the nose at bedtime to reduce the output of urine by the kidneys (Friman & Jones, 1998). The ultimate goal of a lasting correction for nocturnal enuresis has yet to be reached through drug treatment.…”

“…The bell and alarm has been shown to be the most effective single intervention in treating enuresis (Friman & Jones, 1998). A moisture-sensitive pad is placed underneath the child or is attached to the child's undergarments.…”

“…Enuresis has been classified into primary and secondary types, with the former referring to children who have never achieved continence, and the latter to children who achieved dryness for at least six months and then later became enuretic (Goin, 1998). When considering the origin of enuresis, it is important to rule out potential physiopathologic causes such as urinary tract infections, structural defects, diabetes, and epilepsy (Friman & Jones, 1998). This article focuses on theories and treatment approaches to functional enuresis, which occurs in the absence of such organic causes.…”

Handbook of Evidence-Based Therapies for Children and Adolescents

“…Prevalence estimates range as high as 2% of 5-year-old children for encopresis and 25% of 6-year-old children for enuresis and, although both are much less prevalent by the teenage years, they are not rare. For example, as many as 8% of boys and 4% of girls are still enuretic at age 12 (Byrd et al, 1996;Gross & Dornbusch, 1983;Foxman et al, 1986;Friman & Jones, 1998). Evidence of their stress-inducing properties is found in their relationship with child abuse; incontinence is one of its leading causes (Finn, 2005;Helfer & Kempe, 1976).…”