The relationship between Enterobius vermicularis infection and nocturnal enuresis

Abstract

Aim: The possible association between certain childhood infections and the propensity to develop nocturnal enuresis may include intestinal helminth infections. Objective: To explore the association between Enterobius vermicularis and nocturnal enuresis among children 4 to 7 years of age in a Turkish orphanage. Methods: Eighty children (45 boy, 35 girl, age range 4-7 years) participated in this study. The association between Enterobius vermicularis and enuressis was investigated after mebendazole therapy in the children with Enterobius vermicularis infection. The occurrence of Enterobius vermicularis was examined by adhesive cellotape anal swap method. Results: The occurrence of Enterobius vermicularis was examined by perianal tape tests in 80 children. Total egg positivity rates of Enterobius vermicularis were 71.3% (57/80). The egg positivity rates of boys and girls were 75.6% (34/45) and 65.7% (23/35), respectively. Total enuresis rate was 51.3% (41/80), and 60% (27/45) of the boys and 40% (14/35) of girls had enuresis. After the mebendazole therapy, while the total egg positivity rate of Enterobius vermicularis was 33.8% (27/80), this ratio was 35.6% (16/45) for boys and 31.4% (11/35) for girls. While before the mebendazole therapy, total enuresis rate was 51.3% (41/80), after the therapy it was was found to be 28.8% (23/80) in children. Conclusion: In this study, it was shown that Enterobius vermicularis infection was quite prevalent among orphan children in Antakya. Besides this, the results indicate that nocturnal enuresis could be more frequent in children with Enterobius vermicularis disease. It was concluded that nocturnal enuresis may be related with pinworm infestation.