How can healthcare best support children and families living with enuresis?
This was the central question of the digital webinar “Enuresis Treatment from Multiple Perspectives – Evidence, Guidelines and Real-Life Experience”, held on January 22, 2026.
The webinar was jointly organised by Region Blekinge, Wellspect, Essity, and Pjama AB, and was aimed at healthcare professionals working with children affected by enuresis in both primary care and specialist settings.
The goal was clear: to strengthen clinical competence by bringing together current research, clinical experience, and patient and family perspectives—and in doing so, contribute to more equitable and empathetic care.
New Evidence Is Changing How We View Treatment
Professor Tryggve Nevéus, Professor of Pediatrics and Consultant Pediatrician at Uppsala University Hospital, opened the webinar with an overview of epidemiology, pathophysiology and evidence-based treatment strategies for enuresis.
One key message was clear:
recent research has changed how enuresis treatment should be understood and managed.
Enuresis is common across all cultures and does not only affect children—at least 0.5% of adults live with persistent symptoms. Despite this, there are still significant variations in assessment and treatment practices within healthcare systems.
Research shows that nocturnal enuresis rarely has a single cause. Instead, it often involves a combination of factors such as:
- nocturnal polyuria
- detrusor overactivity
- high arousal thresholds during sleep
This underlines the importance of individualised, evidence-based treatment, rather than relying on general advice or long-standing routines.
Moving Beyond “Well-Meant Advice”
An important part of the presentation focused on challenging traditional recommendations that are still commonly given in practice, such as:
- restricting evening fluid intake
- waking the child at night to urinate
- adopting a “wait and see” approach
According to current evidence, these measures have limited or no effect in treating enuresis. Likewise, basic bladder training lacks evidence as a first-line treatment—marking a significant shift in clinical thinking.
Instead, structured treatment approaches such as enuresis alarms and desmopressin, when correctly indicated, followed up and evaluated, have strong scientific support.
Clinical implications: when structure matters more than endurance
Recognising the importance of early response changes how alarm therapy can be managed in practice.
Early follow-up allows clinicians to:
- identify non-responders sooner
- adjust expectations with families
- reconsider treatment timing or approach
- reduce unnecessary burden on the child and caregivers
Importantly, choosing to pause or stop a treatment that shows no early effect is not a failure. In many cases, it represents better, more individualised care.
A structured approach to early evaluation supports clinical decision-making and helps move away from passive “wait and see” strategies.
Panel Discussion: When Guidelines Meet Everyday Reality
Following the lecture, a panel discussion brought together three perspectives:
- a parent, sharing lived experience of having a child with enuresis
- a district nurse, providing insight into daily practice in primary care
- Professor Nevéus, connecting the discussion back to research and guidelines
The conversation was moderated by Jens Larsson, uro- and bowel therapist and paediatric nurse, and focused on how enuresis treatment is experienced in real life, the challenges within the care pathway, and how healthcare can better support children and families.
A Shared Responsibility Across the Care Pathway
The webinar highlighted the need for clearer roles and collaboration across healthcare settings. With the right knowledge and tools, both primary care and specialist services can play a crucial role in delivering effective, safe and evidence-based treatment—while also reducing unnecessary guilt, shame and distress for children and their families.
Why Pjama Is Involved
At Pjama AB, we work to reduce stigma around enuresis and incontinence and to support solutions grounded in both scientific evidence and real-life needs. Taking part as a co-organiser in educational initiatives like this webinar is a natural extension of our commitment to children, families and healthcare professionals.
When research, clinical expertise and lived experience come together, we create better conditions for care that truly makes a difference.
