Background: Nocturnal enuresis is a common health problem among children and adolescents and can lead to important social and psychological disturbances for patients and their parents. Objectives: This study was designed to throw the light on some epidemiological aspects of nocturnal enuresis among school children attending out patient clinics of Benha University Hospital regarding their proportion and risk factors that may predispose to occurrence of it. Method: This is a case – control study conducted on school children (6-12y) attending out patient clinics of Benha University hospital during the period form March 2007 to September 2007 and included all attendants of school children to out patient clinics of pediatrics, urology and psychiatry. Out of 2749 attendants to the these clinics, 218 enuretic cases were identified to be compared with well matched 705 non enuretic school who were randomly selected. Questionnaire sheets were used in addition to medical examination and laboratory investigations. Results: The study revealed that the proportion of enuretic children to attendants of school children to out patient clinics was 7.93% and with increasing the age of enuretic children, a significant decline in the percentage was observed. Most of enuretic children were males (75.22%), from rural areas (61.93%) and form low social class. The presence of school academic problems, illiteracy of mothers of enuretic children and presence of delayed speech and or walking and presence of urinary tract infections showed a significant difference between enuretics and non enuretics. Mothers of enuretic children (1ry type) were the more users of punitive approach in dealing with the problem while fathers showed insignificant difference. Conclusion: Nocturnal enuresis among school children is a common problem and there are many risk factors showed a significant effect on the occurrence of the problem among enuretics such as presence of school academic problems, illiteracy of mothers delayed speech and urinary tract infections. Recommendations: Integrated efforts (Medical., social and psychological) from all concerned authorities directed to the patients and their families to raise awareness, to motivate parents to seek early medical management and to change their attitude towards the problem and their enuretic children to avoid adverse effects of the problem. |
