Bed-wetting is known as Nocturnal Enuresis and it can be very embarrassing situation for the child suffering from it. It can be an equally annoying problem for the parents too. If not managed properly it can affect the self-esteem of the child. Bed-wetting before the age of 6 to 7 is a cause of concern for a lot of people. As during childhood the night time bladder control may not have matured.
This disorder may be classified in two types namely-
Primary Enuresis- This is a state when there has never been a dry night from the beginning.
Secondary Enuresis- This is the state when the child was dry for at least 6 months before the onset of bed wetting again.
Children usually overcome bed-wetting eventually when they get older and it happens by the age of 5 years. But for some the problem may persist and it can be the reason for distress and shame. It is important for the parents to understand that a child does not purposely bed wet. So it is pointless to scold them or get irritated as it may not prove to be helpful. This can be a hereditary thing and is found to be more common among the boys.
The causes of bed-wetting that are commonly found in children are-
. Children usually have small bladders which gets filled up quickly
. Often children do not realize when their bladder gets filled up
. The urinary sphincter muscles’ function is to stop the urine from leaking out from the bladder.
. The bladder found in children is usually not very mature and they lose control during sleep and when they are conscious their mind is at rest.
. Deep sleep would unconsciously empty the bladder
It may also be caused due to stress and some events like first day at school, becoming an elder sibling etc.
There are some kids who do not produce the anti-diuretic hormone and this hormone informs the kidneys to release less amount of water. Medical conditions like diabetes, urinary tract infections, and brain and spine conditions like cerebral palsy cause such problems.
Previously bed wetting was considered to be a psychological issue and there were many children who were made to see psychiatrists and counselors due to this. But psychological treatment has been found to be ineffective on these children. It has now been found that it is not a psychological problem and parents should not scold the children instead they should encourage them when they remain dry. Children who are less than seven years of age do not require any treatment. Children who are above 7 years of age and who wets the bed need to seek professional help.