ORIGINAL ARTICLE
ENURESIS NOCTURNA PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS AMONG SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN IN NORTHWEST TURKEY
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1
Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey
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Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Zonguldak, Turkey
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Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zonguldak, Turkey
Online publication date: 2004-07-15
Publication date: 2004-07-15
Corresponding author
Murat Unalacak
Zonguldak Karaelmas Universitesi Tip Fakultesi
Hastanesi Aile Hekimligi AD. 67600 Kozlu
Zonguldak, Turkey
Phone: +903722610169
Fax: +903722610155
Eur J Gen Med 2004;1(3):21-24
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
To find out prevalence of enuresis nocturna (EN) among school age children, and to determine
associated factors and regional differences, an epidemiological study was performed among
children between 7 to 12 years living in Zonguldak, Turkey. Data were collected at schools
by a questionnaire. EN prevalence was found as 8.9 %, most (75.7 %) were primary, and the
rest were secondary. Prevalence decreased as the age increased in both genders. There was a
positive relationship of EN with positive family history, presence of EN in a brother or a sister,
encopresis, sleep disturbances, a maternal education of primary school or less, working mother,
low monthly income, low school success and introversion or extroversion. Only 19.8 % of the
cases preferred medical treatment modalities, other preferences were waiting for spontaneous
improvement, awaking the child for voiding, water restriction and diapering, in decreasing order.
As EN is a disease that can result in low self-esteem, some other psychological problems and low
school success, it must be treated. Informing these parents wherever they are met, especially at
primary health care settings, is necessary both not to miss patients and to convince the parents
for treatment.