The key difference between nocturia and enuresis is that nocturia is a medical condition that causes people to wake up frequently at night to urinate, while enuresis is a medical condition that causes people to lose bladder control.
Nocturia and enuresis are two associated medical conditions. This is because enuresis or urinary incontinence may be a cause of nocturia. In enuresis, there may be a urine leak by accident due to numerous reasons. These reasons can be minor factors such as infections or very serious factors such as neurological disorders.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Nocturia
3. What is Enuresis
4. Similarities – Nocturia and Enuresis
5. Nocturia vs Enuresis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Nocturia vs Enuresis
What is Nocturia?
Nocturia is a medical condition where people wake up more than once during the night to pass urine. This condition is also called nocturnal urinary frequency. This condition becomes more common as people age (normally older than 60). Moreover, this condition can occur in all genders and sexes. Nocturia is a common medical condition that affects 50% of adults who are older than 50. In addition, it is more common in men after age 50 and more common in women before 50. Nocturia also affects up to 1 in 3 people over the age of 30.
The common symptoms of this condition may include waking up twice or more to urinate at night, passing more volume of urine if polyuria is present, fatigue, and sleepiness during the day. The causes of nocturia may be drinking too much fluid before bedtime, medications that contain diuretics, reduced bladder control or capacity, and habit or routine. The complications involved in this condition include loss of quality sleep and reduction of overall health and well-being.
Nocturia can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests to check kidney function, imaging tests, and cystoscopy. Furthermore, treatment options for nocturia may include lifestyle changes and medications such as anticholinergics (mirabegron, darifenacin and oxybutynin) and desmopressin (helps kidneys produce less urine).
What is Enuresis?
Enuresis (urinary incontinence) is the loss of bladder control. This condition is also known as bedwetting. There are four different types of enuresis: diurnal enuresis (wetting during the day), nocturnal enuresis (wetting during the night), primary enuresis (occurs when a child has never fully mastered bathroom training) and secondary enuresis (occurs when a child did have a period of dryness then return to have a period of incontinence).
Though enuresis is a condition that is more common in children, it can also be seen in older adults (nocturnal enuresis). It is estimated 7% of boys and 3% of girls at age 5 have enuresis. Moreover, only about 1% of males and less than 1% of females at age 18 have enuresis. The main symptoms of enuresis may include repeated bedwetting, wetting in clothes, and wetting at least twice a week for about three months. Enuresis can be caused due to a small bladder, frequent urinary tract infections, severe stress or mental disorders, developmental delays that interfere with bathroom training, and neurological problems.
Enuresis can be diagnosed through physical examination, lab tests like urinalysis and blood tests to measure blood sugar, hormones, kidney function, and neurological examination. Furthermore, treatment options for enuresis may include behavioural therapy, and medications may be used to decrease the amount of urine produced by the kidneys or to increase the capacity of the bladder, which include desmopressin acetate (DDAVP), imipramine and antidepressants.
What are the Similarities Between Nocturia and Enuresis?
- Nocturia and enuresis are two associated medical conditions.
- Enuresis or urinary incontinence may be a cause of nocturia.
- Both conditions are seen more in men than in women.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and blood tests.
- They can be treated through therapies and medications.
What is the Difference Between Nocturia and Enuresis?
Nocturia is a medical condition that causes people to wake up frequently at night to urinate, while enuresis is a medical condition that causes people to lose bladder control. Thus, this is the key difference between nocturia and enuresis. Furthermore, nocturia is mainly seen in older adults, while enuresis is mainly seen in young children.
The below infographic presents the differences between nocturia and enuresis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Nocturia vs Enuresis
Urinary changes such as blood in urine, inability to urinate, or uncontrollable urine flow have to be treated promptly. Nocturia and enuresis are medical conditions associated with urinary changes. Enuresis can be a cause of nocturia. Moreover, both these conditions are more common in men than in women. Nocturia is a medical condition that causes people to wake up frequently at night to urinate. Enuresis is a medical condition that causes people to lose bladder control. So, this summarizes the difference between nocturia and enuresis.
Reference:
1. “Are You Waking up to Pee Too Much?” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Enuresis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment.” WebMD.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Urinary System” By NIH Image Gallery (CC BY-NC 2.0) via Flickr
2. “Wet bed” By Headlock0225 – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia