|
It is known that up to 20% of 5 year olds suffer from this complaint. This figure decreases with age until it reaches 1.5% of 15 year olds.
Bedwetting is a distressing problem and most
families will experience a child who has wet the bed at one time or another. There are generally two types of bed-wetters.
1) One group will wet the bed practically all the time.
2) The other group
has children who wet the bed now and again and will stop for a period of time and then restart. The bed wetter lacks control over bladder excretions and control has to be learned. This can vary in children
and some take longer than others.
As most children grow out of it, the conventional advice given to parents is "Don't worry, they will grow out of it". Current research shows that children
over the age of 6 years who wet their beds more than twice a week suffer low esteem, which improves after bedwetting is cured.
The expression used is that the child is 'potty-trained'. This is usually
achieved at a fairly young age and the child is dry in the day-time and the use of nappies is reduced.
Night-time may be another story and it may take a little longer before there are regular dry nights.
Usually by the age of five the child has control of the bladder. Problems arise that may upset the child and cause the bed-wetting. These may be of a psychological nature and there may be many reasons for
this. A few suggestions may include family upsets e.g., arguments between the wife and the husband, actual physical violence by a family member, or from an outside source, or the arrival of a new baby.
Studies suggest that bedwetting is inherited in many families as family traits are handed down from one generation to another. Problems such as the stress and strain of school life sometimes brings on
the problem. There may be a bully at school or the child may be frightened by a teacher. It is important to find out from the patient if there is a problem. Be careful how you approach the questioning, as it
must be done in a kind and gentle manner so as not to alarm the sufferer.
*ON NO ACCOUNT discipline the child or make the child feel guilty. He/she usually feels enough remorse as it is.
Removal of the cause of stress may help the bed-wetter. It happens sometimes that the child may use the habit to gain attention in a family situation. There may be a medical problem and the bladder may be
suffering from some recurring infection. This may lead to the involuntary loss of urine at night. |
