ENURESIS
- What is enuresis?
Enuresis is involuntary urination by children. Enuresis can also occur both during day and night.
Most common problem in children is enuresis at night.
- Why do my child do bed wetting?
- a) Children bladder muscle develop slowly
- b) Children bladder holds small amount of urine
- c) Child’s brain maturity for control develop slowly
- When should my child attain continence of urine?
Mostly by age of 5, 90-95% of children are continent during day and 80-85% are continent during night.
If your child has incontinence after 5 years of age then it has to be addressed.
- What if my child is incontinent only in night?
This is termed as nocturnal enuresis and it’s the most common form of incontinence. There are many reasons for night time incontinence in children. A few reasons being delayed maturation of brain control, sleep disorders, bladder capacity, constipation, and genetic causes to organic cause like infection, obstruction or psychological causes.
- How do I find if my child has organic cause?
Most of children who has organic cause of incontinence have other co-existent symptom like urinary urgency, increased frequency, swelling of feet, is more thirsty than usual, is day time incontinence or psychological symptoms.
- What should I do if my child has enuresis?
a)Restrict liquids intake in the evening hours after 6.00pm
- b) Avoid high sugar and caffeine containing foods in the evening
- c) Make the child void before bedtime
- d) Make a routine to make the child void in between sleep when they wake up
- e) Make bowel habits of your child regular, since constipation will increase the problem
- f) Avoid wearing diaper for the child
- g) Make the child to mark their own progress in dry nights.
Visit your Paediatricians if all of the above life-style modifications don’t work.
- What if a lifestyle modification doesn’t work?
Then your child needs evaluation to find if there is any organic cause followed by other treatment methods. Behavioural therapy, Medications, Alarm method, bladder training, electric stimulation therapy
are other forms of treatment methods available depending on the cause.
- What is the most important thing as a parent to do in a child with enuresis?
Enuresis is common and it resolves in majority of causes. It neither the fault of the child or the care giver. Children should never be punished for bed-wetting. Those parents who have been more supportive, understanding and tolerant gave more success for their children.
To get consultation do visit Milestones Development Center and Best Hospital for Paediatrics in Salem
Dr.D.Priyadharshini
MBBS, DCH, DNB
Paediatrics
Shanmuga Hospital, Salem
