Enuresis

Enuresis is often familial, usually disappearing in adolescence, with only 1 per cent of children suffering from it into adulthood. Functional enuresis is considered to be a variation in normal bladder control, rather than a disease, and most enuretic children do not exhibit any emotional problems. A small functional bladder capacity and a maturational delay appear to be the relevant causes, considering the high rate of spontaneous cure. Only some children with primary enuresis show evidence of emotional or behavioral problems. The physician caring for an enuretic patient should remember that in the absence of obvious clinical manifestations (which must be treated immediately) the best treatment for enuresis is giving reassurance, offering supportive counseling and allowing time for spontaneous remission. Only when the presence of enuresis interrupts the sequence of normal social, emotional, cognitive, or motor development, should the use of medication or devices be considered.