Patient's question:
The child is now 6 and a half years old and frequently wets the bed. How can this be stopped? The child's father also wet the bed as a child but grew out of it when he became an adult. Is bedwetting hereditary? How should it be treated?Doctor's answer:
Hello: Bedwetting is not hereditary.Enuresis in children refers to the inability of children over the age of three to control urination after falling asleep, resulting in involuntary 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 factors or causes include psychological factors, such as excessive fatigue, mental tension, sudden fright, fear and shyness, difficulty adapting to a new environment, and not being accustomed to urinating at night from a young age. A small number of cases 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, and pinworms. For organic conditions, it is important to seek medical treatment promptly. Once the disease is cured, the enuresis will also be resolved. For functional enuresis, it can be completely cured by paying attention to the following points: ① Parents should treat their child's enuresis correctly. Bedwetting is involuntary, and parents should show sympathy, understanding, and support, never punishing or abandoning the child. ② Relieve psychological stress. Children aged three and older have begun to understand. Parents should persuade and comfort the child, letting them know that this is a temporary functional disorder that can be cured, thereby relieving 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 the amount of soup or liquid in the evening meal, and have the child urinate once before going to bed. Wake them up twice during the night to urinate. Persistence in this routine can help form a conditioned reflex, forming a habit and curing most children. For more stubborn cases, medication or acupuncture treatment may also be used.