Bedwetting

Pelvis | General Practice | Bedwetting (Disease)


Description

Nocturnal enuresis, known as bedwetting, is a condition characterized by urinating involuntary during sleeping after the age when bladder control usually occurs.

Causes and Risk factors

Nocturnal enuresis can be primary and secondary. When a child has not yet had a long period of being dry is called primary (PNE). This occurs because the childs brain has not learned to respond to the signal that the bladder is full. It is not the childs or the parents fault. Secondary nocturnal enuresis (SNE) is when a child or adult begins wetting again, at an age where bladder control already exists.

It might be physical, emotional, or just a change in sleep. Physical causes are rare, but may include lower spinal cord lesions, birth defects of the genitourinary tract, infections of the urinary tract, or diabetes. The following causes are less common, but are easier to prove and more clearly treated: alcohol consumption, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), caffeine, constipation, infection/disease, insufficient anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) production, more severe neurological-developmental issues, physical abnormalities, psychological issues, sleep apnea, sleepwalking, stress.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A physical examination should be performed to rule out physical causes. A urinalysis will be done to rule out infection or diabetes. X-rays of the kidneys and bladders and other studies are not
needed unless there is reason to suspect some other problems.

Doctors consider treatment when there is a specific medical condition such as bladder abnormalities, infection, or diabetes. Physicians also treat bedwetting when it may harm the childs self-esteem or relationships with family/friends. Punishment is not effective and can interfere with treatment....