Our experiences of managing
nocturnal enuresis in Greek children at our Outpatient Clinics of Pediatric Urology are described. Between March 2001 and October 2003, 142 children with primary
nocturnal enuresis (93 boys and 49 girls), aged 7-18 years old (mean: 9.0+/-0.5) were included in this prospective study. Initially, behavioral conditioning therapy, using a body-worn urinary alarm, was instructed in all cases. If no improvement was recorded, 40 microg of intranasal
desmopressin was administered, initially for three months. If urodynamic studies demonstrated pure detrusor instability,
anticholinergics (5 mg oxybutinine or 2 mg
tolterodine) were given instead. Combination medication (
desmopressin and
anticholinergics) was administered for coexisting
diurnal enuresis, which was present in 8 children. Among the 142 children the overall response rate was 51.41%. Successful response was recorded in 16 children practicing conditioning behavioral
therapy, in 47 receiving
desmopressin (with or without
anticholinergics), and in 10 children receiving only
anticholinergics. During the follow-up period (mean: 6.2 months), no serious side effect was recorded. The use of
desmopressin, and
anticholinergics in specific subgroups, was found to be effective and safe for the management of
nocturnal enuresis in children.