diurnal enuresis

pathology

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 25, 2026

Quick Summary

Diurnal enuresis is a condition characterized by the repeated voluntary or involuntary voiding of urine during waking hours into clothing or bedding. This disorder is diagnosed in children aged five or six (or older) who experience at least one or two such incidents per month, have a mental age of at least four, and have no underlying physical cause.1

It is distinct from nocturnal enuresis, which occurs only during sleep. While the exact causes are not fully understood, factors such as genetics, stressful life events, and immaturity in bladder control may contribute. Treatment often involves behavioral therapies, alarms to promote waking during urination, and in some cases, medication to reduce urine production or increase bladder capacity.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

enuresis
… (occurring only during sleep), or diurnal (occurring during waking hours). The most prevalent form is nocturnal enuresis (also called bed-wetting and usually of the primary type), and the disorder occurs more often among boys than girls. Roughly 1 percent of children continue to be affected by this disorder until the…
Read More
… (occurring only during sleep), or diurnal (occurring during waking hours). The most prevalent form is nocturnal enuresis (also called bed-wetting and usually of the primary type), and the disorder occurs more often among boys than girls. Roughly 1 percent of children continue to be affected by this disorder until the…
Read More