Nighttime Wetting
What is nighttime wetting?
Nighttime wetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, is when a potty-trained child with day time bladder control has urinary accidents during the night in the bed. It is not considered abnormal until the age of five and is not cause for serious alarm.
Nocturnal enuresis is a developmental delay in the normal process of having nighttime bladder control. This condition will usually resolve on its own without intervention, however, it can be a very difficult issue for children as they get older and spend more time away from home at night for sleep-overs or overnight camps. It can cause anxiety, embarrassment and withdrawal for the child in social situations.
Why come to Children's Hospital Colorado for treatment of this condition?
The professionals at Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora , Colorado are dedicated to caring for kids. The members of the urology team are experts in pediatric urologic conditions and our surgeons are specialized in both pediatrics and urology. We strive to help patients and families feel educated about their condition, prepared for treatment and fully cared for by our urology team.
What are the signs and symptoms?
The signs and symptoms include nighttime wetting one to seven times a week.
How do you diagnose it?
Nighttime wetting is diagnosed by clinical presentation and history. There are no tests or radiology involved in the diagnosis.
How is it treated?
Treatment of nighttime wetting includes behavioral modification, as well as conditioning therapy. Behavioral modification includes encouraging good day time urinary habits, decreasing the risk of constipation, restricting fluids after 6 p.m. and eliminating fluids and foods that are irritating to the bladder or are diuretics (i.e. carbonation, high sugar content fluids, and caffeine). Conditioning therapy includes setting a bedwetting alarm which helps teach the brain and bladder to communicate.
There is no single treatment that has been proven to treat nighttime wetting. Treatment often requires multiple interventions and it is not guaranteed that it will work for every child.
Who gets it, and can it be prevented?
There is some evidence of a genetic link, meaning that if a child’s mother or father wet the bed past age seven, it is more likely that they will wet the bed. However, there is no known single cause for the condition .
When should I seek medical attention?
It is important to seek medical attention if the nighttime wetting begins interfering with the child’s social interactions or emotional state.
