Electro-acupuncture in the treatment of children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a long series of electro-acupuncture (EAP) sessions on bedwetting symptoms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-five children (age range 7-16 years) with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis and treated earlier without success were included in the study. The median number of wet nights per week was 4.7 before treatment. Bedwetting, voided volume, sleep and nocturia were evaluated 3 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after 20 sessions of EAP lasting 8 weeks. RESULTS: All the children, with the exception of one, tolerated EAP treatment well. At the three follow-up sessions it was found that the number of dry nights had increased gradually from a median of 2.3 in the pre-test to 3.0, 4.3 and 5.0 per week, respectively. Compared to pre-treatment findings there were more dry nights in 65% of the children (p < 0.001) and 5 out of 23 children were responders (> 90% reduction of the numbers of wet nights) at the 6 months' follow-up. According to the parents, the sleep arousal threshold had decreased in about 50% of the children.