Nocturnal Enuresis Significantly Prevalent in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, reports study
A recent study published in the Journal Children found that nocturnal enuresis is significantly prevalent in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study results suggest that adenotonsillectomy can reduce nocturnal enuresis in these Children.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a breathing disorder characterized by repeated episodes of upper airway obstruction during sleep, disrupting normal patterns. It is a sleep disorder that peaks in children between 3-6 years of age. The breathing issues at night can also affect dental occlusion and craniofacial development. Adenotonsillectomy (AT) is the primary treatment for pediatric OSA. Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is intermittent incontinence during sleep, and its prevalence decreases with age. Literature shows that NE has a high prevalence in OSA and reduces when OSA is treated with AT. However, there is limited data on the prevalence of NE in OSA children compared to their healthy peers. Researchers conducted a study to determine the prevalence of NE in children with apnea OSA, the effect of AT, and the width of the arches and to compare them with control children without respiratory problems.
The study included 298 children within the age range of 2 to 12 years old. There were two age groups of children aged 2–<5 years and ≥5–12 years. Participants were divided into two main groups: an experimental group (n = 130) and a control group (n = 168). The experimental group was further divided into two subgroups: children with OSA and NE (n = 51) and children with OSA but without NE (n = 79). Children having at least one bedwetting incident per month were identified as having NE. Arch widths were measured at the baseline and one year after. Polysomnography was used to diagnose OSA, and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was obtained. A Pediatric Sleep Questionnaire (PSQ) was given to the parents to classify their children into those with and without NE.
Thus, the study concluded that nocturnal enuresis is more prevalent in children with OSA and should be considered and evaluated as one of the first signs of breathing disorders. These findings underscore the importance of recognizing nocturnal enuresis as one of the potential clinical markers for OSA in pediatric patients.
Further reading: The Relationship between Nocturnal Enuresis and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children. Doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/children11091148
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