What you should know about bed wetting
Night incontinence or bed wetting is a condition of involuntary urination in kids who are old enough to control their bladder.
Although kids by the age of 5 are completely toilet trained, there are some cases where there is no target age for the development of complete bladder control. Some children between the age group of 5 and 7 years experience bed wetting problems. Moreover, only a small number of kids after the age of 7 continue to experience bladder control problems.
Causes of bed wetting
There are no prominent causes of bed wetting, but some of the factors that lead to it are:
Having a small bladder– It is possible for the child to experience bed wetting due to a small bladder, which also means that the kid’s bladder has not developed enough to hold urine during the nighttime.
Hormonal imbalance– One of the causes of bed wetting may be insufficient or no production of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) during childhood, which can slow down the urine production during the night.
Diabetes– Children who were dry during the night, a start of bed wetting is one of the first signs and symptoms of diabetes. However, it is best to get them checked with a child specialist. Some of the other signs along with bed wetting would be weight loss, fatigue, and an increase in thirst.
Inability to recognize a full bladder– In case the nerves that are connected to the bladder mature slowly, then a full bladder may not wake the child. This is true especially in the case when the child is a deep sleeper.
Urinary tract infection– A urinary tract infection (UTI) causes difficulty in controlling urination. Some of the other signs of UTI include pain during urination, frequent urination, and pink or red-colored urine.
Chronic constipation– The muscles controlling urination and stool elimination are the same. At times when constipation lasts longer, these muscles might become dysfunctional and lead to bed wetting.
Sleep apnea– Bed wetting can sometimes be caused due to sleep apnea, which is a condition of interrupted breathing during sleep. Enlarged or inflamed tonsils cause sleep apnea.
Risk factors
There are several risk factors associated with bed wetting and these are:
Anxiety and stress– Some of the cases of bed wetting are triggered by stressful events. Sleeping away from home or starting a new class can get stressful for some kids, which may lead to bed wetting.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, this condition can be one of the main triggers for bed wetting in children.
Family history– Another risk factor of children experiencing bed wetting is family history. If either or both of a child’s parents have had a similar condition, the child too would have higher chances of bed wetting.
Some ways for treating this condition include bladder training, lifestyle changes, and medications. If the condition is persistent during the daytime, the child is more than 7 years of age, and has swollen ankles or feet, it is advisable to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
