An analysis of the behaviour of day- and night-wetting children: Towards a model of micturition control

Recent research has suggested that features of daytime bladder control are of importance in predicting the treatment response of nocturnal enuretics to the enuresis alarm. This paper suggests that a detailed analysis of daytime toileting behaviour should be carried out. A study is described where 22 children with day and night wetting and 22 matched normal controls were observed after they had consumed a considerable amount of fluid. The limb movements and postures were reliably rated by two observers and wetting events and visits to the toilet were recorded. Various deficits in bladder control were shown by the enuretic children. A working model of daytime bladder control is described which draws attention to significant components which may be disturbed in abnormal bladder control. The models implies that treatment regimes should be based upon a behavioural analysis of the particular dysfunction shown by the enuretic child.