www.bpac.org.
nz keyword: enuresis
The investigation and management of
nocturnal enuresis in
General Practice
Expert Reviewer: Associate Professor David Reith, Department of Women’s
and Children’s Health, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago
Key Concepts
■■ Nocturnal enuresis is common and children
usually grow out of it
■■ Simple advice regarding fluids and use Considerations:
of rewards may be appropriate in the first ▪▪ At what age is bedwetting abnormal?
instance ▪▪ What is it normally due to?
■■ If the child and their family are motivated to
▪▪ Are any investigations needed?
try treatment, then the use of bed alarms with
▪▪ What advice can I give to parents?
support offer the best chance of long-term
success ▪▪ When should I refer?
■■ Desmopressin can be prescribed with caution ▪▪ What non-drug treatments are recommended?
for occasional short term use
▪▪ What medications are recommended?
14 | BPJ | Issue 14
Defining bedwetting
Primary nocturnal enuresis is bedwetting in a child who A recent study found that children with the most frequent
has never been consistently dry at nights for a period of bedwetting were more likely to persist with the problem.3
six months.
It is thought that fewer than half of parents with a child
Secondary nocturnal enuresis is bedwetting in a child with nocturnal enuresis, consult their doctor about the
who has previously had a period of at least six months problem.4
of dryness.
Bedwetting can place considerable stress on the individuals Causes of bedwetting
affected and their families. Although this article is aimed The exact cause of nocturnal enuresis is unknown. It
mainly at children, similar principles apply to adolescents appears to be a neurodevelopmental problem which is
and adults who are still bedwetting. probably multifactorial. Discussion with patients and
parents may centre around the following:
▪▪ Sleep polyuria
At what age is bedwetting abnormal?
▪▪ Reduced night-time bladder capacity
The International Children’s Continence Society defines
nocturnal enuresis as:1 ▪▪ Lack of arousal from sleep
▪▪ A child five to six years old with two or more ▪▪ Psychosocial factors
bedwetting episodes per month
▪▪ Genetics
▪▪ A child over six years old with one or more
bedwetting episodes per month
Sleep polyuria
However, most management strategies are aimed at
children aged seven years or older, as this is when Nocturnal polyuria can result from a deranged circadian
bedwetting is usually considered to be a problem by both rhythm of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) secretion which
the child and their family. occurs in approximately 70% of children with bedwetting.5
ADH, also known as vasopressin, is a peptide secreted from
Bedwetting is common but reduces with age. It affects the posterior pituitary and plays a key role in the control of
approximately: urine production. Usually ADH secretion increases during
▪▪ 15% of 5 year olds the night to concentrate the urine and this in turn helps to
produce low volumes of urine.
▪▪ 5% of 10 year olds
▪▪ 2% of 15 year olds
▪▪ 1% of adults Reduced night-time bladder capacity
A recent Chinese study included ultrasound examination
Spontaneous remission occurs in about 15% of affected of 500 children with nocturnal enuresis and showed a
children each year and is more likely to occur if there is a reduced functional bladder capacity in approximately 40%
family history of nocturnal enuresis.2 of children with nocturnal enuresis.6
BPJ | Issue 14 | 15
Lack of arousal from sleep Differential diagnosis –what else might it be?
Sleep and arousal is one of the least understood factors When a child presents with bedwetting, enquire about the
in the pathophysiology of enuresis. Many parents will presence of daytime symptoms, which could indicate that
comment that their child with bedwetting is a “deep the bedwetting is secondary to other causes.
sleeper”. A 1999 study using EEG analysis suggested that
both deeper sleep and impaired arousal is more common ▪▪ UTI and other acute illness might cause short
in children with enuresis, however other studies have
7
periods of bedwetting in someone who has
conflicting results. previously been dry.
▪▪ Diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus or renal failure
may cause bedwetting but there are usually other
Psychosocial factors
symptoms e.g. daytime polyuria, excessive thirst.
Psychological problems are rarely the cause of primary
▪▪ Chronic constipation may result in bladder instability,
nocturnal enuresis but teasing, bullying or punishment
a careful history of bowel pattern is required.
can be the result of it. Secondary nocturnal enuresis is
more likely to be due to a psychosocial stressor such as ▪▪ Bladder instability can cause daytime and night-
parental separation, a new baby in the family, sickness or time incontinence.
problems at school. ▪▪ Caffeinated drinks may irritate the bladder.
Genetics Investigation of bedwetting
Genetic factors are strongly implicated in the etiology of A careful history is important
primary nocturnal enuresis, so it is worthwhile taking a ▪▪ Distinguish between children with nocturnal
family history of bedwetting. enuresis (the majority) and children who also have
episodes of enuresis during the daytime.
Approximately 70% of children with bedwetting have a
▪▪ Distinguish between primary and secondary
sibling or parent who was late in becoming dry. Children
nocturnal enuresis.
with one parent who had enuresis have a 44% risk of
nocturnal enuresis and those with two affected parents ▪▪ Ask about the pattern of voiding, the number of
have a 77% risk. 4
dry nights in the past week or month, fluid intake
at bedtime, intake of caffeine at bedtime (e.g. tea,
Most inherited nocturnal enuresis exhibits an autosomal coffee, cola, chocolate).
dominant mode of transmission with high penetrance
▪▪ Discuss practical issues such as can the child reach
(90%). However, a third of all cases are sporadic, and
the toilet, do they need a light on to see their way to
the difference between sporadic and familial forms is not
the toilet, any night time fears.
known.8
▪▪ Ask about any possible stressors at home, school or
with friends.
16 | BPJ | Issue 14
Treatment options for bedwetting
Waiting
Most children will outgrow bedwetting. For this reason
most treatments are delayed until the child is at least
seven years old. However treatment might begin earlier if
the situation is perceived to be damaging the child’s self
esteem or relationships with family and friends.
Behavioural strategies
Parents could be advised to:
▪▪ Ensure that the child empties their bladder well at
bedtime.
▪▪ Improve the child’s access to the toilet (e.g. have
them sleep on the bottom bunk, have a torch within
reach).
▪▪ Use waterproof covers on mattress and duvet
(especially for boys) and then absorbent layers over
the mattress cover.
▪▪ Shower/bathe the child in the morning prior to
attending school to remove odour.
▪▪ Discuss what has been tried already, including
punishments and rewards. ▪▪ Do not restrict fluids. The child should have about
eight drinks per day, spaced out throughout the
▪▪ Elicit previous medical history, such as previous
day, the last one about an hour before bed. Avoid
UTIs.
caffeine in night-time food and drink (e.g. tea,
coffee, cola, chocolate).4
The examination of the abdomen, perineum, spine
▪▪ Treat constipation if present.
and nervous system is normal in a child with nocturnal
enuresis. Any abnormalities found would lead to additional ▪▪ Reward systems.11 Advise use of positive
investigation. reinforcement to encourage a desired behaviour.
The aim is to positively reinforce dry nights (or any
Ultrasound examination of the kidneys and urinary tract to steps towards that) and to reduce the negative
exclude anatomical abnormalities is only recommended emphasis on wet beds.
in children who are wet during the day, after UTI or when ▪▪ Scheduled wakening is preferable to “lifting” a
nocturnal enuresis is unresponsive to treatment. 9
child. Scheduled wakening involves waking the
child periodically (one to three times) at night and
Investigation with urine dipstick and culture can be helpful.
4
walking them to the toilet to pass urine. Eventually
However, checking specific gravity is usually not. 10
the time between awakenings is stretched until
the child can go a full night without wetting the
BPJ | Issue 14 | 17
bed. Lifting is thought to be counterproductive in Desmopressin
some children as the child is denied the opportunity
Desmopressin is a synthetic analogue of ADH and is the
to learn the sensation of a full bladder and is
only available antidiuretic drug. It works by reducing the
encouraged to urinate without wakening.4
volume of urine produced during the night but only on the
▪▪ Older individuals may use an alarm clock to wake nights it is used, so does not cure the problem in the long
themselves before their usual time of enuresis.12 term.
When should GPs refer? In most situations, before considering this medication,
it would be appropriate to have tried a bed alarm
If after initial advice, more active treatment is sought, then programme.
referral to a paediatrician, enuresis clinic (if available in
your area) or a continence advisor might be the next step Safety concerns about desmopressin
to working out a programme most suited to the child. In April 2007 the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products
The programme would usually centre on the use of bed Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a drug safety alert stating
alarms. that hyponatraemia, water intoxication and convulsions
were associated with the use of desmopressin nasal spray.
Following this, the nocturnal enuresis indication has been
Supported bed alarm programmes withdrawn from desmopressin nasal spray in the UK.
Enuresis alarms emit a loud tone when moisture is sensed,
so that the child is awoken as soon as they begin to wet In December 2007 US drug regulators, the FDA, stated
the bed. They are considered a good long-term and safe that they no longer approved desmopressin nasal spray for
treatment. use in nocturnal enuresis after two deaths and a review
of data that showed that 41% of hyponatraemic-related
Bed alarms have a 65 to 80% success rate when used seizures occurred in people younger than 17 years old,
with support (such as an enuresis nurse) and if the child using desmopressin most commonly for primary nocturnal
is motivated to become dry.4 They help “condition” the enuresis.
child to wake at the sensation of a full bladder. Efficacy is
better than behavioural treatments alone and relapse rate The BNF 2008 states: “The Committee on Safety of
is lower than with pharmacological treatments.4 Medicines has advised that patients should stop taking
desmopressin during an episode of vomiting or diarrhoea
Alarms are usually needed for three to five months. When (until fluid balance normal). The risk of hyponatraemic
dryness has been achieved for 14 nights, children should convulsions can also be minimised by keeping to the
be encouraged to drink extra fluid (up to 500mL of water recommended starting dose and by avoiding concomitant
in the hour prior to bedtime), and continue with this use of drugs which increase secretion of vasopressin e.g
until there have been another seven to 14 consecutive tricyclic antidepressants”.13
dry nights. This form of challenge is used in conjunction
with the bed alarm and is known as “overlearning”. This Occasional short term use of desmopressin
reduces the rate of relapse from 50% to 25%.4 Desmopressin intranasal spray is currently available fully
funded on specialist recommendation. The tablets are
Children who relapse should be promptly offered the not currently funded. GPs might be asked to consider
supported alarm programme again. prescribing desmopressin for short-term use such as for
18 | BPJ | Issue 14
school camps or sleepovers. Desmopressin can also be Useful resources
offered as an adjunct to alarm therapy if required to assist
family coping.4 KEEA – Kiwi Enuresis Encopresis Association
www.keea.org.nz
A Cochrane review of desmopressin concluded that it was
effective in reducing bedwetting compared with placebo. KEEA was registered as a charity in New Zealand
When desmopressin is used, most of the children have in 2001 and helps with information and advice on
fewer wet nights (one night less on average per week) and bedwetting and soiling. They have a useful database
more become dry (19% compared with 2% using placebo which shows who to contact in your area for a bed
treatment in five trials involving 288 children).14 alarm, what costs may be involved, the waiting list
length and whether a GP referral is necessary.
The usual dose of desmopressin is 20 to 40 micrograms
intranasally or 200 to 400 micrograms orally, at bedtime. Kidshealth
Fluid intake should be restricted one hour before to at www.kidshealth.org.nz
least eight hours after the dose, and patients or parents
This website covers a range of information on child
should be told to report symptoms of water retention and
and youth health – use ‘bedwetting’ as a search
hyponatraemia e.g. headache, nausea, vomiting, weight
term.
gain or convulsions.
NZCA (The New-Zealand Continence Association)
There is insufficient data to reliably assess whether a
higher dose is any more effective than a lower dose, so to www.continence.org.nz
minimise side effects and costs, the lowest effective dose
The NZCA has a children’s continence section on it’s
should be used.4
website.
Patient information leaflets are also available –
Other drug options? Incontinence in children, and Adults and bedwetting.
Oxybutynin can be useful in daytime enuresis and may Email: jan@continence.org.nz
also improve nocturnal enuresis. It can be considered in or call free 0800 650 659
patients with bladder instability or in children who do not
respond to desmopressin. Parent to Parent
www.parent2parent.org.nz
Tricyclic antidepressants are contraindicated for use in
This is a support service for parents of children with a
children for nocturnal enuresis. Tricyclic antidepressants,
range of conditions and can put parents in touch with
most commonly imipramine, have historically been used
other parents experiencing similar situations.
for the treatment of nocturnal enuresis and have evidence
of effectiveness but with safety concerns.15 A particular
Paediatric Society of New Zealand
concern is overdose, which can be fatal.
www.paediatrics.org.nz
Indomethacin, diclofenac and diazepam are not The society has published a best practice evidence-
recommended as initial therapy for children with nocturnal based guideline.
enuresis.
BPJ | Issue 14 | 19
References
1. Norgaard J, van Gool J, Hjalmas K et al. Standardisation 8. Von Gontard A, Schaumburg H, Hollmann E, et al. The genetics of
and definitions in lower urinary tract dysfunction in children. enuresis: A review. J Urol 2001;166(6): 2438-43.
International Children’s Continence Society. Br J Urol 1998;
9. Hjalmas K, Arnold T, Bower W, et al. Nocturnal Enuresis: an
81(Suppl 3):1-16.
International evidence based management strategy. J Urol
2. Mikkelsen EJ. Enuresis and encopresis: ten years of progress. J 2004;171(6):2545-61.
Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2001;40(10):1146-58.
10. Sailta M, Macknin M, Medendorp SV, Jahnke D. First-morning
3. Butler RJ, Heron J. The prevalence of infrequent bedwetting and urine specific gravity and enuresis in preschool children. Clin
nocturnal enuresis in childhood. Scand J Urol Nephrol 2008;42(3): Pediatr (Phila). 1998 Dec:37(12):719-24.
257-64.
11. Glazener C, Evans J, Cheuk D. Complementary and miscellaneous
4. Paediatric Society New Zealand. Best Practice Evidence Based interventions for nocturnal enuresis in children. Cochrane
Guideline. Nocturnal Enuresis “Bedwetting”. 2005. Available from Database Syst Rev 2005;2:CD005230.
www.paediactrics.org.nz Accessed May 2008.
12. Lynth N, Bosson S. Nocturnal enuresis. Clin Evid 2004;12:508-17.
5. Rittig S, Knudsen UB, Sorensen S et al. Abnormal diurnal rhythm
13. British National Formulary (BNF). BMJ Publishing Group and Royal
of plasma vasopressin and urinary output in patients with
Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. March 2008.
enuresis. Am J Physiol 1989;56:664-71.
14. Glazener C, Evans J. Desmopressin for nocturnal enuresis in
6. Lui YL, Wen FQ, Sun F. Functional bladder capacity in 1500
children. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2000;2:CD002112.
children with nocturnal enuresis. Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi.
2008 Apr;10(2):170-172. Article in Chinese, abstract available on 15. Glazener C, Evans J, Peto R. Tricyclic and related drugs for
PubMed. nocturnal enuresis in children. Cochrane Database Systematic
Rev 2000;2:CD002117.
7. Hunsballe JM. Sleep studies based on electroencephalogram
energy analysis. Scand J Urol Nephrol 1999; 33(Suppl 202):28-30.
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