OBJECTIVETo study the association of functional bladder capacity with the severity of bedwetting in children with nocturnal enuresis.

METHODSA questionnaire investigation was performed in 1 500 children with nocturnal enuresis and the functional bladder capacity was examined by B-ultrasound.

RESULTSThe ratio of males to females was 1.3:1. The majority of patients (87%) were in an age range of 5-10 years, followed by the 10-14 years group (12%), and the 15-18 years group (1%). Six hundred and thirty-seven patients (42.4%) showed a decreased functional bladder capacity (less than 50% of normal level). The patients were classified into four groups according to the severity of bedwetting (from severe to mild): > or =2 times per night (n=53, 3.5%), > or =7 times per week (n=969, 64.6%), 3-6 times per week (n=380, 25.3%) and 1-2 times per week (n=98, 6.5%). The incidence of the reduction in functional bladder capacity in the above four groups was 79.2%, 48.3%, 29.7% and 14.3% respectively and a significant difference was noted among the four groups.

CONCLUSIONSMost of children with nocturnal enuresis showed decreased functional bladder capacity. Functional bladder capacity is associated with the severity of bedwetting in children with nocturnal enuresis.