DOHA: A study by Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) on the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis — bedwetting — among Qatari students between six and 12 years, has found that 25 percent of them suffer from the clinical problem.
One of the core researchers, Dr Mansoura Fawaz S Ismail, PHCC Consultant of Family Medicine, said nocturnal enuresis is a very common clinical problem in children.
“Although it is a benign symptom, it causes substantial distress and presents significant psychosocial problems for children and parents,” she stressed.
The study among 256 children from government primary schools reveals that the overall prevalence of bedwetting is 25 percent and higher in boys (13.7 percent) than in girls (11.3 percent) and the prevalence declines with age.
A questionnaire over the phone was discussed with parents and a response rate of 98 percent was obtained.
Besides determining the prevalence of nocturnal enuresis, the study also reflects on how parents perceive it in their children and their knowledge of the causes.
The study says most participants (70.3 percent) said their children refused to see a physician.
“Enuresis affects children’s self-esteem. They get embarrassed, shy, emotional or hesitant to spend the night away from home,” Dr Ismail said.
Nearly one-third (31.2 percent) of parents reacted to their children’s problem by using punishment.
“Nocturnal enuresis is defined as the involuntary voiding of urine once in a great while, monthly on occasion, two to four times weekly and nightly beyond the age at which bladder control is normally attained (five years).
“Primary nocturnal enuresis is seen in three quarters of them while secondary nocturnal enuresis in 25 percent of them,” Dr Ismail said.
Nocturnal enuresis is a disturbing problem, which may affect child’s self-respect and self-esteem and should be seriously considered.
Parents having children with nocturnal enuresis are encouraged to consult their family physicians. Based on consultation, a range of treatments could be advised, including bed alarm, drug treatment, which will decrease all aspects of burdens of the problem, including low self-esteem, general anxiety, social fears and sadness that affect the child and the family.
The Peninsula
