Bedwetting

Bedwetting In Children

Bedwetting is a common and troublesome problem in some children.

It is viewed traditionally as part of growing up, but when it persists beyond early childhood, it becomes unacceptable and can be very stressful and distressing to the afflicted children and their families. Many parents are worried when their school-going child continues to wet his bed at night.

The following are some common questions asked on bedwetting.

What Is Bedwetting?

It is uncontrollable wetting while asleep in an otherwise healthy child beyond early childhood.

Most bedwetters seeking treatment in Singapore are:

5 years or older with majority between 7 to 12 years old
Suffering from frequent bedwetting of at least twice per week the majority being almost every night

Is Bedwetting A Problem That Needs Therapy?

Yes, especially when the child is already at school going age and the wetting is frequent.

Studies have shown that constant bedwetting can adversely affect the psychosocial development of the child causing low self-esteem and poor social adjustment
It can also cause resentment and anxiety in parents and other family members
It constitutes a source of embarrassment and deters the sufferer from healthy outdoor activities like overnight camping and travelling

In Singapore, it has been found that bedwetters and their parents sought treatment for the following reasons :

Restricted activities involving overnight sleep outside home
Parental fatigue
Disrupted sleep for the household
Fear of underlying disease

How Common Is Bedwetting?

Actual incidence of bedwetting is unknown in Singapore. However, it is believed to be quite common and there is an increasing number of cases seeking treatment in recent years.

Its occurrence in Singapore might be under-reported as it had been found that many sufferers and parents were too embarrassed to seek treatment while others thought that there is no effective treatment; thereby suffering in silence
In Western countries, the problem is common with a reported incidence of 10% among 7-year-olds, 5% among 10-year-olds and 1% in the adult population

What Causes Bedwetting?

The exact cause or causes are unknown. Various factors or causes that have been implicated include:

Hereditary cause. Bedwetting often runs in a family.
Inability to wake up to void urine. Bedwetters are known to be deep sleepers.
A delay in maturation of bladder control at night. Bedwetting tends to improve with time and the majority of sufferers will ultimately become dry. But this may take years and a small percentage of them (1%) will continue bedwetting beyond puberty.
Lack of the production of a naturally occurring body hormone called Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH) during sleep in 20-30% of children with bedwetting. This hormone is important for reducing urine production at night.