NOCTURNAL ENURESIS
As early as the tenth or twelfth month of age the child may be trained to make known his desire to empty the bladder. However, with some children this may not be accomplished until two and a half years of age. If by the third year of age the child is unable to retain the urine for a normal length of time, it is evidence of some abnormality and should receive Chiropractic attention. The child is afflicted with what is known as enuresis, which may take place during the day or night, or both. If it occurs during the day, it is called diurnal; while if it takes place during the night, it is known as nocturnal. It is more likely to take place during the night, since it may be possible for the child to control the bladder during waking hours.
We are most concerned with the nocturnal enuresis, because this form causes the child more discomfort and it is more difficult to control than the diurnal.
We recognize nocturnal enuresis as an adaptative condition. That is, the emptying of the bladder is a perfectly natural process and will always take place under certain conditions. For example, if the sphincter muscle relaxes, the urine will be voided. In this event, we are not concerned in the voiding of the urine, but in the cause for the relaxation of muscle which prevented the bladder from retaining the urine. There are a number of conditions to which nocturnal enuresis is adaptative. The following are the most common:
Incoördinations involving the nervous system.
Highly acid urine.
Excessive quantity of urine.
Abnormalities and incoördinations of the bladder.
Irritation of the genital organs.