Enuresis in children and young people: a public health nurse approach in New Zealand.

The involuntary passing of urine at age six and older is called enuresis. Wetting during the day is called diurnal enuresis and wetting at night while asleep is called nocturnal enuresis. Nocturnal enuresis is second only to allergy as the commonest chronic disorder in childhood. Many children (adolescents are included in the term 'children') who are nocturnal enuretics exhibit behaviours such as low self-esteem, withdrawal, less ambition and increased anxiety. These children are often low achievers within the school system and become a problem for their family and school. In this article the author discusses a child/adolescent-centred primary nocturnal enuresis program and service that is administered by a group of public health nurses in South Auckland, New Zealand.