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Enuresis
Enuresis (bed-wetting) is one of the most socially disabling disorders
found in children; additionally it throws a heavy burden upon the
mother. Following a pilot scheme there are now six Enuresis Alarms
available for loan to patients for use at home in the treatment of this
condition. The underlying principle is that by waking the patient each
time he or she wets the bed, the alarm brings about a habit whereby the
patient wakes shortly before he or she would have otherwise wetted the
bed; and rises to pass urine in the normal way; such a habit is of course
unremarkable socially and in many cases the improvement is carried
a stage further and the patient is able to sleep throughout the night
without any need to pass urine.
Although early results were encouraging those obtained later
showed improvement due probably to a better selection of cases, and
perhaps due to better handling of the case in general by the Medical
Officer concerned. The early cases were obtained from school contacts,
either at School Medical Inspections, or referred by Head Teachers
Later as knowledge of the treatment spread, cases have been referred by
Family Doctors, and in some cases parents have contacted the Clinic
direct, inspired by friends or neighbours whose children have been
successfully treated.
Treatment, on the average, appears to take between two and
three months, so that with the present complement of alarms, about
twenty-five cases can be treated annually, which is a small number
considering the size of the problem. However it is felt that the personal
relationship between the Medical Officer and the child and parents is
an important part of treatment, so that even with an unlimited number
of Alarms available the number that could be helped would be limited
by this factor, bearing in mind other commitments.
VACCINATION AGAINST TUBERCULOSIS
B.C.G. Vaccination was again offered to all 13 year old school
children and the statistics relating to this service are as follows:—
Number to whom offered 1,226
Number tuberculin tested after parents'
consent had been received 697
Positive result 49
Negative result 632
Number who received B.C.G. Vaccination 6. 2
(16 children were tuberculin tested but failed to attend the clinic
for the result to be observed).
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