A retrospective study about incontinence and enuresis in the shadow of Covid19 pandemic

Aim: Enuresis and/or incontinence are one of the most common problems that families seek professional help. In this study we wanted to evaluate the patients who applied to pediatric nephrology outpatient clinics with enuresis and/or urinary incontinence during Covid19 pandemic. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the patients with the ICD diagnoses of “Non-organic enuresis” and “Urinary incontinence”. The data regarding two hundred and four patients were analyzed and compared via dividing them into two groups as Group A (Primary enuresis nocturna) and Group B (other enuresis and incontinence types such as dysfunctional voiding, secondary enuresis, bladder and bowel dysfunction etc.). Results: Mean age was significantly higher in Group A when compared with Group B (9.57 (± 2.78) vs. 8.67 (±3.27), p=0.036). In Group A male/female ratio was 61/43, in Group B male/female ratio was 36/64 (p<0.001). Family history was more prevalent in Group A (72% vs 31%) (p<0.001). In Group B, 25% of the patients had a history of at least one symptomatic urinary tract infection, and it is significantly higher than Group A (p=0.012). One-hundred and nine over 204 patients had applied for a control visit (53%). Overall treatment success rate in patients having at least one control visit was 82% and 72% in Group A and B respectively. Conclusions: Urinary incontinence and enuresis are common problems in children. There are certain differences between nocturnal enuresis and day time incontinence in terms of their characteristics and the treatments as well. We usually demand a control visit since the treatment of enuresis and incontinence requires close follow-up, however only 53% of the patients applied for a control visit. This low rate of control visit might be attributed to the Covid19 pandemic since patients and families might have avoided to apply to hospitals with this “less serious” complaints when compared with an important contagious disease.