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 and only grew out of it when he became an adult. Is bedwetting hereditary? How should it be treated?Doctor's answer:
Hello: Enuresis is not hereditary.Bedwetting in children, also known as enuresis, refers to the inability of children over the age of three to control urination while sleeping, resulting in unconscious bedwetting. Habitual enuresis can weaken children, affect their physical health and intellectual development, and frequently causes distress for the family.
There are generally two types of enuresis in children: functional and organic. The majority of cases are functional, caused by dysfunction of the higher central nervous system in the brain. Common factors or causes include psychological stress, such as excessive fatigue, mental tension, sudden fright, fear and shyness, difficulty adapting to new environments, and the lack of a nighttime urination habit from a young age. A minority of cases are organic, often resulting from 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 essential to consult a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Once the disease is cured, enuresis will also be resolved. Functional enuresis can be completely treated by following these points:
① Parents should adopt a correct attitude toward their child's enuresis. Bedwetting is unconscious, 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. Parents should persuade and comfort the child, helping them realize 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, ensure they take a 1–2-hour nap in the afternoon, and avoid giving them liquid diets after 4 p.m. Reduce fluid intake with dinner, have the child urinate before bed, and 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 may also be used for treatment.