Abstract
Background: Nocturnal enuresis can be defined as the inability to control urination and involuntary urination during sleep. Enuresis is a very common medical problem among young children. Enuresis is classified into different categories depending on the onset of the problem. It is not a condition that families should be afraid of, but we have to be aware of the impact that it can cause to the family and the child. We have also to be aware of the co-morbidities that can be associated with NE. Purpose: This study aims to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of nocturnal enuresis among children in eastern region in Saudi Arabia. Material and methods: This is a cross sectional study targeting parents and caregivers of children between 5-18 years old in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. An online questionnaire which contains an informed consent has been used to collect the data. And the analysis was done using the SPSS program (statistical package for the social sciences) version. Results: The prevalence of NE was found to be around 48% in children between the age of 5-18 years old in the eastern region of Saudi Arabia. Prevalence of NE was reduced with increasing age but it was not significant statistically, also there was no significant difference between genders. The number of episodes was found to be 2-4 times weekly in Forty six percent of children, and (33.6%) had daily bed wetting. Most the children with NE had it only at nighttime (69.7%) and (30.3%) reported NE anytime during sleep. The majority of respondents who have a child with NE didn't make the choice to treat their child (59%). Conclusion: The study showed that almost half of the participants complaining of NE. with no significant association between NE and gender or sociodemographic status. Medical intervention was not the choice of most families participating in the study. Still there is no enough information about the causes and risk factors of NE so further researches needs to be done.