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BEDWETTING IN CHILDREN
Bedwetting is involuntary urination during sleep, which is a common issue in kids under the age of 7. It is also called nighttime incontinence or nocturnal enuresis.
Bedwetting isn’t an indicator of failed toilet training. It’s generally just an aspect of a child’s growth.
In general, bedwetting before seven isn’t a cause for concern. Your child might still be at the stage of developing nightly bladder control. It happens more frequently in children who face emotional and behavioral difficulties and developmental delays.
CAUSES OF BEDWETTING
It is unclear what causes bedwetting, but several factors could be at play.
● Inability to identify full bladder: A full bladder might not wake up your child if the nerves that control the bladder are slow to develop, especially if your child sleeps deeply.
● Smaller bladder: It’s possible that your child’s bladder isn’t developed enough to contain urine produced during the night.
● A hormonal imbalance: Some children may not produce the required amount of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)during childhood, which causes nighttime urine production to increase.
● Sleep apnea: Bedwetting could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a disease in which a child’s breathing is disrupted while sleeping. Enlarged or inflamed tonsils commonly cause it.
● Urinary tract infection: Your child’s ability to control urine may be harmed due to this infection. Bedwetting, daytime accidents, frequent urination, red or pink urine, and pain while urinating are all signs and symptoms.
● Time: Some children require additional time to gain bladder control.
● Constipation: Urine and stool evacuation are controlled by the same muscles. Long-term constipation can cause these muscles to become dysfunctional, leading to nighttime bedwetting.
● Diabetes: Bedwetting might be the first indicator of diabetes in a normally dry child at night. Other symptoms include passing a large quantity of pee all at once, lethargy, increased thirst and weight loss despite a healthy appetite.
● A problem with the urinary tract or the nerve system’s structure: Bedwetting is rarely linked to children’s neurological or urinary system abnormality.
● Genetics: Wet-bed children are more likely to have a family member like a parent, aunt or uncle, who wets the bed until a later age, implying a genetic component.
● Changes in your life or stress: Moving or adding a new sibling, anxiety, and other stressors can cause a child to wet the bed even after being dry for a long time.
● Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Bed-wetting is a very common symptom for children who have ADHD.
Tips to stop bedwetting
● Establish a regular urine schedule for your kid (every two to three hours) and just before night.
● Keep counting the number of dry nights as it can help motivate and reward kids. It also aids in keeping track of bedwetting to see if it is improving or worsening and identify patterns.
● Caffeinated drinks should be avoided before bedtime. Caffeine causes children to urinate more frequently.
● Ensure that your child is getting a good 8 to 9 hours of sleep. Pets and electronic gadgets should be kept out of your child’s bedroom.
● Punishing your child for accidents can add to their stress feelings of guilt and teach them to hide their bedwetting. Instead, make your child assist you with the cleanup.
● Increase your fluid consumption early in the day and decrease it later, stopping after dinner.
CONSULTING A DOCTOR
It is important to see a doctor if:
● After being regularly dry for at least six months, suddenly begins wetting the bed or having daytime accidents, especially if there have been no recent changes or stressors.
● When urinating, the child feels a burning feeling or pain.
● If the color of your urine changes from clear to pink or red.
● The feet or ankles are swollen.
● Frequent urination.
● If the child snores loudly or has pauses or gasps in his breathing.
● If the child is drinking or eating a lot more than usual.
You can also use medication to stop bedwetting after consulting the specialist. You can visit one of the Best urologist in Islamabad to figure out a solution. A very competent urologist is also available at Iqra Medical Complex.
