Although it is very common in childhood, it should be further evaluated even after 5 years of prolonged bedwetting. Bed bugs are more common in boys aged 4-11 than in girls. Most parents believe that bedwetting is caused by laziness, which is not the real cause.
The reasons.
The cause may be due to physical or psychological factors. If the child spends the whole day under strong pressure, be it from parents or school. The main reasons include:
- Stressful home life and conflict between parents
- Bad daytime toilet habits
- Urinary tract infection
- Diabetes
- Down syndrome
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- Deep sleep and arousal disorder
- Congenital defects of the genitourinary tract
- Chronic constipation, in which a full bowel puts pressure on the bladder
- Slow development of bladder control
Laboratory tests.
- A urinalysis is the first step in which we check for pus cells, protein, casts and glucose to rule out urinary tract infections and kidney disease.
- Random blood sugar levels are checked to rule out diabetes.
- Urine culture is based on urinalysis report.
- Children with complicated enuresis may need further evaluation with renal ultrasound and voiding cystourethrography.
Treatment.
- Trust is the best approach for both the child and the parents.
- Avoid punitive measures that can negatively affect the child’s psychological development.
- Fluid intake should be limited to 60ml after 6-7pm.
- Parents should make sure that the child has a bowel movement before going to bed.
- Avoiding sugar and caffeine after 4pm can also help.
- Waking babies up a few hours after bedtime can help them wake up dry.
- You can’t blame the child for wetting the bed.
- Praise the child and give a star if he wakes up dry.
- Some pharmacological agents are available to provide short-term relief, but can only be recommended by doctors if the above remedies do not work.
- If there is an underlying cause such as diabetes or structural abnormalities, treatment is given first to treat it.
Links:
https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/bed-wetting-in-adults
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bed-wetting/symptoms-causes/syc-20366685
according to
Dr. Y. Alekhya: