Even though most children have developed control of their bladder by the age of 52 , boys tend to develop proper bladder control and maintain dryness at night later than girls.2
Whereas enuresis at ages 6 – 7 years becomes problematic because the child is in school and may experience social problems.2,3
HOW COMMON IS BEDWETTING AMONG CHILDREN?
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WHAT CAUSES BEDWETTING?
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Firstly, difficulty to rouse from sleep:4
This happens when the child is asleep and the brain doesn’t get the message that the full bladder needs to be emptied.
Secondly, an overactive or twitchy bladder:4
If the bladder is overactive, the bladder muscle becomes “twitchy” and can only hold small amounts of urine. A “twitchy” bladder may spontaneously contract during sleep, which can result in bedwetting.
Thirdly, the overproduction of urine during the night:4
If the child has low vasopressin levels (a naturally occurring substance) at night, then they may produce more urine than the bladder can hold.
WHY TREAT BEDWETTING?
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When a child is very young, enuresis may not seem like a concern. However, persistent bedwetting can be a distressing experience for both the child and the family as they get older.4,5
Aditionally, if left untreated, the child or teenager can suffer an increased risk of the following:1,4,5,6
- Low self-esteem.
- Strong feelings of shame and guilt.
- Avoidance of social activities.
- Underachieving at school.
- A sense of difference from others.
- Victimisation.
Most importantly, clinical research has shown that bedwetting can have a significant negative impact on a child’s emotional and social development.6
WON’T THEY JUST GROW OUT OF IT?
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On the whole, about 14 % of children grow out of wetting the bed each year. Even so, enuresis often doesn’t resolve by itself. In fact, for some children the problem continues into adulthood. Enuresis occurs in 2 – 3 % of adults.1
HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD OR TEENAGER WHO SUFFERS FROM BEDWETTING?
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- Firstly, reassure your child that enuresis is a common problem and is not his/her fault.7
- Secondly, encourage your child to go to the toilet frequently during the day, especially just before bedtime and on awakening.7
- Thirdly, reduce the amount of fluid consumed in the evening.7
- Fourthly, encourage physical activity.7
EFFECTIVE TREATMENT IS AVAILABLE.
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If your child is six years of age or older, still suffers from enuresis, and is unhappy and uncomfortable about it, you should contact your doctor for advice.2,7
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