Curbing a bedwetting problem

Bedwetting is referred to within the medical community as nocturnal enuresis.

This problem occurs relatively often in infants, and as age and development increase, less and less children face the issue. When the problem persists for years on end, it can be a source of shame and embarrassment by the sufferer, who may feel incompetent due to the problem.

The problem may be more wide-spread than you know; approximately 1 in 3 children wet the bed at age six.

Some studies have also shown that between 5 and 10 percent of all teenagers wet the bed, showing that the problem is a universal one that affects many. While bedwetting isn’t a chronic illness, it’s effects on a child’s mental health can be vast. To that end, it’s important to know the methods of treatment employed when trying to help those with a bedwetting problem.

One type of treatment commonly used when trying to help a child to get over a bedwetting problem is Tricyclic antidepressant drugs. These drugs have a anti-muscarinic property that allows them to help children to curb their bedwetting problem for up to three months. Desmopressin is another drug that is often prescribed. It is a synthetic hormone that provides an alternative means for children’s bladders to control the amount of urine released. Some children that have bed wetting problems do not have this hormone naturally produced in their bodies, so their bladders may be filled with urine throughout the night whilst those with the hormone present don’t experience a filling of the bladder until morning. It can be used on a nightly basis to maintain the level of the hormone, and can be discontinued with no cumulative effects on the patient’s functioning.

Another non-prescription treatment used to treat those with a bedwetting problem is a simple alarm device. The device employs the use of behavioral conditioning, with an alarm sounding whenever any moisture is detected while asleep. In this manner, children can unconsciously learn to anticipate waking up when they sense a urinary release is about to occur.

One solution that is debatable when it comes to aiding a bedwetting problem is the use of absorbent diapers or pants. While they do not actually help the child to solve the bedwetting problem, they may be useful when it comes to taking the stress away from your child when it comes to damaging sheets. Some doubt the potential of diapers, however; they feel that the child may feel more ashamed of wearing the diaper than the bed wetting problem in the first place.

From a psychological standpoint, it’s important to let your child know that bedwetting is not their fault. Studies have shown that taking this stress away from your child increases the child’s desire to help treat the problem. Punishments regarding bedwetting should be avoided, as they often are counterproductive to the treatment process. Whatever solution you choose when it comes to dealing with your child’s bed-wetting problem, it’s important to show compassion and understanding when helping hem to get over their issue.