[Dry bed training in nocturnal enuresis].

In order to determine the prevalence of bedwetting, in the period September 1987-June 1989 an investigation was conducted among 1882 pupils of 15 primary schools in a rural area of the Netherlands. The investigation coincided with the periodical medical examination for which all pupils of these groups were invited and for which over 99% reported. In addition to this epidemiological study, a study was made of the effect of dry bed training, as a part of youth health care, in 36 children with nocturnal enuresis. Of the children examined, 8% wet their beds at least once a week, boys twice as often as girls. The secondary form of nocturnal enuresis occurred mostly in those aged 7-8 (44%) and mostly after certain events such as start of the school year, family problems or hospitalization. The proportion of bedwetting children with a parent with a history of nocturnal enuresis in youth was large: 56%. Of the girls with nocturnal enuresis, 25% had had a urinary tract infection as against 0.4% of the control group. Nocturnal enuresis often caused emotional stress in child and parents. The success rate of the dry bed training was 86%. Most children were dry within two months; 32% had a--frequently transient--relapse. After six months, 75% of the children who had had dry bed training remained dry at night. Group dry bed training appears a suitable method for children with nocturnal enuresis from age 8 when other methods (including the pad and buzzer) are unsuccessful. The training is feasible outside hospital and is an appropriate part of the tasks of youth health care.