NOCTURNAL ENURESIS

Abstract

Introduction

Enuresis, from the greek word ‘enourein’, to void urine,is the involuntary  discharge of urine. Enuresis refers to the persistence of inappropriate voiding of urine beyond the age of anticipated bladder control (age 4 to 5 years at the latest). Diurnal enuresis is involuntary leaking of urine during waking hours. Nocturnal enuresis refers to involuntary passage of urine during sleep and is classified as primary (no prior period of sustained dryness) or secondary (recurrence of nighttime wetting after 6 months or longer of dryness) [1]. Recent urology literature describes another classification of nocturnal enuresis based on the presence or absence of other bladder symptoms. Monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (MNE) is defined as a normal void occurring at night in bed in the absence of any other symptoms referable to the urogenital tract, and it precludes any daytime symptomatology. Polysymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PNE) is bed-wetting associated with other bladder symptoms such as urgency, frequency, instability, or voiding dysfunction. Investigations of patients who have MNE reveal that they are clearly different from patients who have PNE [2-4].