Patient's question:
My son is 3 years old now, and he still wets the bed at night. Is there any method to help him stop wetting the bed?Doctor's answer:
Bedwetting in children, also known as enuresis, refers to the inability of children over the age of three to control urination after falling asleep, resulting in unconscious bedwetting. Habitual enuresis can weaken children, affect their physical health and intellectual development, and frequent bedwetting can also bring to the family.There are generally two types of enuresis in children: functional and organic. Most cases of bedwetting in children are functional, caused by dysfunction of the higher central nervous system in the brain. Common causes include psychological factors, such as excessive fatigue, mental tension, sudden fright, fear and shyness, difficulty adapting to a new environment, and the lack of a nighttime urination habit from a young age. A few cases of bedwetting in children are organic, often caused by conditions such as spina bifida, spinal meningitis, spinal cord injury, epilepsy, underdeveloped brain, small bladder capacity, urinary tract infections, bladder stones, phimosis, anal fissures, or pinworms. For organic conditions, it is important to seek medical treatment promptly. Once the disease is cured, the enuresis will also be resolved.
Functional enuresis can be completely cured, and the following points should be noted:
① Parents should treat their child's enuresis correctly. Bedwetting is an unconscious act, and parents should show sympathy, understanding, and support. They must never punish or reject the child.
② Relieve psychological stress. Children aged three and older have begun to understand, and parents should persuade and comfort them, letting them know that this is a temporary functional disorder that can be cured, thereby alleviating their stress and building confidence in recovery.
③ Establish a reasonable daily routine. Avoid letting the child play too hard during the day, allowing them to nap for 1–2 hours in the afternoon, and not giving them liquid meals after 4 p.m. Reduce fluid intake with dinner, and have the child urinate once before bed. Waking them up twice at night to urinate can help form a conditioned reflex, thereby developing a habit and curing most children. For those with more stubborn cases, medication or acupuncture may also be used.