Enuresis: A maturational lag.

ENURESIS IS NOT A DISEASE, BUT A DISORDER CAUSED BY DELAYS IN THE MATURATION OF THREE PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESSES: persistence of spontaneous bladder contractions, bladder volume exceeding the nocturnal functional bladder capacity and persistence of elevated sleep/arousal thresholds. Enuresis has been subtyped into two different groups, depending on whether the predominant feature is frequent small voidings (excessive bladder contractions) or large urinary volume (volume-dependent). The clinical pattern demonstrated by the enuretic child depends on the severity of the maturational lag. In practice, a mix of these types is most common.