Bedwetting Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Bedwetting is a condition in which a person cannot control the discharge of urine or urine while sleeping. Bedwetting itself is divided into two types, namely primary and secondary.
Wetting the bed which is included in the primary category if the condition has never stopped since childhood. Meanwhile, secondary occurs when someone has stopped wetting the bed for at least six months, and returns to wetting the bed again.
The incidence of bedwetting generally runs in families. If parents have a history of bedwetting, their children also have a higher risk of experiencing the same disorder. The age at which bedwetting stops is also generally not much different.
Symptom
Bedwetting is characterized by a person’s inability to control the discharge of urine or urine during his sleep at night. In children, wetting the bed is still considered normal until the age of 7 years. After that age, the child must be evaluated whether there is a medical or psychological cause that underlies the disorder.
In addition to age restrictions, wetting the bed also requires special attention. Things to pay attention to are children who suddenly wet the bed after six months of stopping, bed wetting accompanied by excessive thirst, pain when urinating, urine color becomes red or cloudy, and snoring sleep.
Reason
In the primary type, wetting the bed is generally caused by the immaturity of the nervous system that controls the ability to urinate. This immaturity causes a person to never be able to control urination. Whereas in the secondary type, there are several things that can underlie it, namely:
- Urinary tract infection
- Type 1 diabetes
- Abnormalities of the anatomical structures around the urinary tract
- Nervous system disorder
- Emotions and stress
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) which is characterized by loud snoring
- Worms
- Many drinks
- Constipation
- Disorders of the antidiuretic hormone, which reduces the production of urine at night
Diagnosis
To determine the diagnosis of bedwetting, the doctor will conduct a medical interview. It is necessary to know:
- History during pregnancy and birth, whether full months or premature
- History of bowel and bladder training ( toilet training )
- History of constipation
- Is there itching around the anus (indicating worms)
- Is there a history of spinal deformity (related to the nervous system)
- History of urination is not smooth
- History of bedwetting in the family
- Psychic stress
- Urinary routine to assess bladder capacity and frequency of bowel movements to assess the presence or absence of constipation
- Habit of consuming caffeinated drinks
In addition to medical interviews, supporting examinations are also needed in the form of:
- Urinalysis which aims to determine whether there are signs of urinary tract infection
- Ultrasound or X-rays to evaluate the condition of the kidneys
- MRI is needed in certain cases where there is a suspicion of spinal deformity
Treatment
Most children will stop wetting the bed on their own, provided there is no specific underlying medical condition. Some things that can be done to speed up the process of stopping wetting the bed and preventing it from happening again are:
- Limit drinking before bedtime
- Avoid drinks that contain caffeine
Other treatment is carried out based on the underlying medical condition. In urinary tract infections, for example, appropriate antibiotics are needed based on the type of germ causing it. Meanwhile, surgery may be needed in cases with anatomical structural abnormalities.
Complications
Most cases of bedwetting do not cause significant complications. The effects that arise are more to psychic disorders such as shame, stress, and low self-esteem. In cases like this, support from the closest people such as parents and family is needed. Apart from psychological disorders, other mild complications that can arise are skin disorders in the form of rashes and irritation due to wetting the bed.
Prevention
Prevention efforts that have proven to be effective in avoiding bedwetting are by taking the following steps:
- Limit drinking before bedtime
- Urinate before going to bed