Acupuncture efficacy in the treatment of persistent primary nocturnal enuresis.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess the therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese acupuncture in the treatment of persistent primary nocturnal enuresis (PNE).

Methods: Fifty children and adolescents suffering from persistent PNE were recruited from the Pediatrics and Urology Outpatient Clinic of Zagazig University Hospital during the year 2010. They included 31 boys and 19 girls, with a mean age of 116 ± years (range 9-17 years). The children and their parents underwent thorough counseling followed by two courses of treatment, each course administered over 10 consecutive days. Patients were instructed to continue regular follow-up, every three months, after starting the therapy. The response rate (cure, improvement, or failure) was monitored by recording dry nights and the number of spontaneous arousals to void per week on a calendar. Children who showed partial or no response after six months of observation received another two courses of acupuncture therapy, and were followed up for a further six months period.

Results: After the initial two courses of treatment, the cure rate at six months was 76% with an additional 18% achieving partial improvement. Twelve children needed another two courses of treatment. After one year of follow-up, 92% of patients showed complete cure and 8% showed failure of acupuncture therapy.

Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment in patients with PNE appears effective in increasing the percentage of dry nights, with stable results even after the end of treatment courses. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm these results and to elucidate the therapeutic mechanism of acupuncture.

Keywords: Acupuncture Therapy; Nocturnal Enuresis; Traditional Medicine.