Bedwetting (Enuresis)

The medical term for chronic, frequent bedwetting is enuresis. The infants and little children generally suffer with bedwetting or enuresis. Bedwetting is frequently an embarassing condition for children when they reach grade-school age. Frequent bedwetting during sleep is called nocturnal enuresis, and is also more usual in boys.

Bedwetting (Enuresis)

Types of Enuresis
The term enuresis is derived from the Greek word enourein, to avoid urine. There are two types of enuresis: primary and secondary. Primary enuresis is the term for bedwetting in the child who may never have been dry. Enuresis is called primary when a child has never had good control of his bladder by the time he reaches six years. Primary enuresis is commonly a development issue in which the child's control of urination is just not yet fully mature.

Secondary enuresis refers to a recurrence of bedwetting in a child who has stop his or her for a period of 1 year or more. Secondary enuresus us more likely to be related (although not always) to a medical problem. Secondary enuresis should prompt an evaluation by your child's doctor to check for possible causes of bedwetting, such as a bladder infection.

Causes of Enuresis
There are physical, emotional, and sometimes even situational factors that may cause of bedwetting.

Should You be Concerned About Your Child's Bedwetting?
Bedwetting is very common. It occurs in 10% of 6 year olds and 5% of 10 years olds. Infrequent bedwetting, which occurs less than twice a week, is even more common. Boys also more likely to wet the bed than girls. Most of the time, bedwetting stops on its own as a child matures. Every year that your child gets older, there is a 15% chance that the bedwetting will spontaneously go away. However, becayse bedwetting is a nuissance for families and may cause significant embarassment or interfere with things your child would like to do, such as sleeping over at friend's house, treatment may be appropriate. A treatment plan for typical enuresis can be developed after organic causes of bedwetting have been ruled out.