This blog is to share the latest research and development of acupuncture and raise the awareness of alternative treatments for your conditions, and is for information only.

Monday, 26 May 2014

Acupuncture makes bedwetting go away

Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, refers to a child’s inability to control urination during sleep from infancy but there also cases that go beyond the age of 5. It is a common problem in young children but gets less common as a child gets older. The primary nocturnal enuresis means a child has not yet had a prolonged period of being dry. The secondary nocturnal enuresis is when a child or adult begins wetting again after having stayed dry. Research shows that it may be caused by late development or other factors such as emotional or psychological stress or other underlying conditions. For children with bedwetting positive help from family members in particular parents is very important in determining the outcome of bedwetting management. It is believed that behavioural therapy is helpful in early treatment. Enuresis alarm therapy and medication may be more effective but have many adverse effects.

Acupuncture treatment helps improve primary bedwetting. Recently Egyptian researchers conducted the study to investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture on primary bedwetting with 50 patients (age between 9-17 years), who had >3 bedwettings per week during two-week observations and failed to medication and behavioural treatment. All patients were given two sessions of acupuncture treatment; each session was administered once a day for 10 day. Patients were instructed to continue follow-up every three months from beginning the treatment. At the end of 6 months after acupuncture, 38 (76%) patients stopped bedwetting completely. Then 12 patients who were not cured were given further two sessions of acupuncture treatment. One year follow-up showed that 46 patients (92%) were cured for bedwetting.

The data shows acupuncture is very effective in treating bedwetting.

Reference:
El Koumi MA et al., Acupuncture efficacy in the treatment of persistent primary nocturnal enuresis. Arab J Nephrol Transplant. 2013 Sep;6(3):173-6.   http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24053744

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