Parents think that by the time they have potty trained their children, they are done with sodden sheets and mess. But this sigh of relief might be just a little premature; every 1 in 10 children who are potty trained experience daytime bed wetting.
Bedwetting is just as prevalent in children during the night as well. It is referred to as nighttime incontinence or nocturnal enuresis because a child loses bladder control when during sleep.
There are two types of nocturnal enuresis. Primary NE is used to refer to children who have always been unable to control their bladder during sleep, ever since they got potty trained. Secondary nocturnal enuresis is when the child was able to keep dry all night, for around 6 months, and then suddenly stepped back into the habit of bedwetting.
Secondary nocturnal enuresis is generally a response to some stress in life, or a byproduct of some medication etc. The reasons behind bed wetting can be as innocuous as lack of shuteye or rather grave like tumor, and therefore, it is best to enlist the help of the urologist in Islamabad
Causes of bedwetting
Bladder issues
Children are still developing, and there is a possibility that the bladder is simply not big enough to contain the urine at night, as the child sleeps, leading to bed wetting.
Moreover, it can also be due to nerves controlling the bladder. As they are still in the development phase, the signal from the bladder to the brain regarding it being full might not make it through to the brain. Thus, the pelvic floor muscles stay relaxed, leading to the release of urine from the body.
Constipation
In this condition, stools become hard. As the stool gets stored in the rectum, it pushes on the bladder that lies just above the rectum. This pressure thus leads to urine getting leaked out from the bladder.
Moreover, in the body, the same set of muscles control the rectal and bladder control. In chronic constipation, these muscles lose out on their proper functionality, thereby leading to the problem of bed wetting.
Defects
There can also be some defect in the nervous system, or the renal system that might be causing the bedwetting. However, this is a much rarer phenomenon.
Diabetes
Children who suffer from Type-I diabetes may also report bedwetting as a symptom of the disease. Alongside this, they also experience thirst, fatigue, weight loss, decrease in appetite and passing off large amounts of urine at one time.
Diet
Carbonated and caffeinated drinks are diuretic, i.e., they stimulate the production of more urine. If the child takes more of these drinks, especially at night, their body might produce more urine, causing bedwetting at times.
Dysfunctional elimination syndrome
In this disorder, the bladder muscles and nerves do not work in synchronization. The working of both in-tandem is imperative for proper urination protocol.
Consequently, muscles may become tight mid-stream, even when there is still urine in the bladder. Later, the bladder may become too full, and leak etc.
Hormonal Issues
Our body produces the Antidiuretic hormone, ADH, which slows down the urine production. Brain helps in the regulation of this hormone. However, when the brain is unable to stimulate sufficient secretion of the hormone, or kidneys do not respond to the hormone, kidneys end up producing more urine.
Thus, the child is more prone to bedwetting at night.
Sleep apnea
Obstructive Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops as the person sleeps, for short periods of time. In children, it generally occurs due to the blockage of the airway by the large tonsils and adenoids.
One of the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea is bed wetting. Other signs include snoring, headaches in the morning, sleep walking, irritable disposition, daytime sleepiness etc.
Stress
Bedwetting may also be a child’s response to stress. It is often the case when the child has a new sibling, they are sleeping alone or are starting a new school that makes them anxious.
Moreover, children who are undergoing emotional turmoil like family crisis, or have undergone emotional trauma are more prone to bedwetting as well.
Furthermore, those with learning disabilities like ADHD also have greater propensity towards bedwetting.
Urinary tract infection
UTIs afflict not just adults, but also children as well. When a child suffers from urinary tract infection, it gets harder for them to control their urine. Other signs of UTIs include daytime wetting, frequent urge and need to urinate, painful urination and at times, there might also be blood present in the urine.
Treating Bedwetting
The treatment of bedwetting is contingent upon the underlying reason. However, certain steps can be taken that help control the situation.
Try that the child does not drink fluids before bedtime. Cut off an hour or so prior to bedtime. But make sure they drink enough during the first half of the day; we do not want the child to be dehydrated.
Make a schedule to ensure that the child goes to pee, even if they do not feel like it. This bladder training has shown to be effective. Your child may already feel stressed out due to bedwetting, do not further stress your child by being angry at them.
If your child is less than 7 years of age, the matter is not very alarming. However, if this case persists with older children, it is best to visit the best urologist in Lahore for treatment.
