Bedwetting is a traumatic ordeal, too often endured in embarrassing silence by families. This disorder can affect both children and adults, but tend to affect children. Parents are encouraged to seek help if bedwetting continues after the age of 12.
What is bedwetting?
Bed-wetting, also called nighttime incontinence or nocturnal enuresis, is the involuntary urination while asleep after the age at which staying dry at night can be reasonably expected. Some cases of bedwetting are a normal part of a child’s development, especially if it occurs before the age of 7. Bed-wetting can affect anyone, but it’s twice as common in boys as in girls.
Most children outgrow bed-wetting on their own — but some need a little help. In other cases, bed-wetting may be a sign of an underlying condition that needs medical attention.
What are some causes of bedwetting?
In many cases there is not an obvious cause of bedwetting in children, but it could be because the child:
• produces more urine than his or her bladder can cope with
• has an overactive bladder, meaning it can only hold a small amount of urine
• is a very deep sleeper, so he or she does not react to the signals telling his or her brain his or her bladder is full
• has a hormone imbalance
• has diabetes
• suffers from chronic constipation
• has a structural problem in the urinary tract or nervous system
Bedwetting often runs in families.
Occasionally, bedwetting is triggered by emotional distress such as being bullied or moving to a new school.
When to see your doctor
Most children outgrow bed-wetting on their own — but some need some treatment. In other cases, bed-wetting may be a sign of an underlying condition that needs medical attention. I strongly urge you to consult a doctor if your child has the following:
• Your child still wets the bed after age 7-12 years
• Your child starts to wet the bed after a few months of being dry at night
• Bed-wetting is accompanied by painful urination, unusual thirst, pink or red urine, hard stools, or snoring
Treatment
Most children outgrow bed-wetting on their own. If treatment is needed, it can be based on a discussion of options with your doctor and identifying what will work best for your situation.
In some cases, a few lifestyle changes will do the trick. These include avoiding caffeine and limiting fluid intake after 6 pm.
If found, underlying causes of bed-wetting, such as constipation or sleep apnoea, should be addressed before other treatment.
Options for treating bed-wetting may include moisture alarms and medication. Medical treatments are not usually recommended for children under five.
Complications
Although frustrating, bed-wetting without a physical cause does not pose any health risks. Bed-wetting can create some issues for your child, including:
• Guilt and embarrassment, which can lead to low self-esteem
• Loss of opportunities for social activities, such as sleepovers and camp
• Rashes on the child’s bottom and genital area — especially if your child sleeps in wet underwear.
Conclusion
Bedwetting in children can be frustrating for both children and parents. By age 5 or 6, 85% of children can stay dry throughout the night, but some children still wet the bed from time to time until age 10 or 12. The cause of bedwetting is sometimes difficult to identify. In some cases, simple lifestyle changes are sufficient, but in other cases, further treatment might be required.
Ask Your Dr is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge MB BS DGO MRCOG is an obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor with over thirty-six years in clinical practice. Dr Brett Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 497 5928).
