Many parents are faced with the problem of childhood urinary incontinence. Until a certain age, this is considered quite normal. However, if such incidents happen after 5 years, you should start to worry. The essence of the disease is that the bladder is unable to hold the contents inside. In a dream, the muscles relax, and involuntary urination occurs . In this review, we learn what constitutes childhood enuresis, the causes and treatment will also be considered.
basic information
Until a certain age, the urinary system of the baby is at the stage of formation. From the moment of birth, adaptation to new conditions takes place, skills are formed that are aimed at satisfying physiological needs.
Many parents are interested in the causes of childhood enuresis and treatment. Dr. Komarovsky, a well-known pediatrician, believes that the presence of this problem may not be associated with any serious pathologies in the body. With the right treatment, you can quickly get rid of involuntary urination during sleep. The main thing that parents should remember is a gentle attitude to the child. In this case, the treatment should not be delayed.
The activity of all systems and organs is carried out through the brain. Therefore, the problem of urinary incontinence can be associated not only with physiological abnormalities, but also with psychological ones.
Causes of the disease
Let's dwell on this in more detail. In a newborn child, the nervous system is not yet fully developed, so urination is uncontrolled. As they grow older, nerve endings develop, and children begin to independently control the urge to the toilet. On average, the complete formation of the reflex occurs by 4 years. Depending on the individual characteristics of the body, this can happen a little earlier or later. But if at the age of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 years, the child still suffers from involuntary urination - this is a reason to sound the alarm.
What are the causes of nocturnal childhood enuresis? Here are some of them:
- Hypoxic damage to the nervous system resulting from complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Hereditary predisposition: there is a special gene that promotes an increase in the level of substances that inhibit the reaction of bladder cells to antidiuretic hormone.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Urological diseases.
- Stress, unfavorable psychological situation.
- Insufficient bladder capacity (may occur as a result of transferred pyelonephritis).
- Congenital or acquired diseases of the spinal cord and brain.
- Allergy.
- Diabetes.
Unfavorable factors
What you need to know about this? What can cause childhood enuresis? The causes and treatment we will consider in detail in this review. Children's enuresis develops as a result of the action of several factors. One reason may cause another. The simplest reason for involuntary urination at night can be excessive consumption of liquids, cold foods, fruits, and also overcooling of the body at bedtime. The problems associated with urinary incontinence can also lead to psychological factors, such as nightly fears, jealousy and quarrels.
Who to contact?
What to do if the child has been diagnosed with childhood nocturnal enuresis? Causes and treatment should be determined by a qualified doctor. The primary diagnosis and treatment of any childhood diseases is carried out by a pediatrician. It will be he who will have to identify a narrower specialist in this matter and give parents direction for a comprehensive examination.
Given that enuresis can cause a number of factors of various nature, it is better to undergo examination at once by several doctors.
Namely:
- Urologist: prescribe an ultrasound of the bladder and kidneys, urinalysis. According to the results of the examinations, medication can be prescribed.
- Psychologist: determines the presence of stressful situations in the family, and also checks the level of development of the child. Based on the results of surveys, it can give parents specific recommendations.
- Neurologist: prescribes procedures to determine the state of the nervous system.
Presented specialists usually conduct an examination in turn, determining the causes of the disease in their field. If doctors have difficulties with an accurate diagnosis, they can collect a consultation and refer the baby for examination to other specialists - an endocrinologist and a nephrologist.
Treatment
Let's dwell on this aspect in more detail. How to overcome childhood enuresis at night? The causes and treatment of this disease should be determined by the doctor. In no case do not try to make a diagnosis yourself and prescribe therapy. This can only aggravate the situation. Each case requires an individual approach. Drug treatment is prescribed only according to the results of diagnosing the condition of the bladder and muscles. Also, the doctor may prescribe tests to detect the level of the hormone vasopressin. It regulates the level of fluid in the body.
Based on the results, the doctor may prescribe the following drugs:
- "Driptan": helps with increased tone of the bladder.
- "Minirin": produced in the form of drops in the nose, buried by the child before bedtime.
- Nootropil and Persen, as well as B vitamins: are prescribed if nocturnal enuresis is neurotic.
All of the above drugs can be used only as directed by a doctor, in compliance with the dosage and rules of admission.
Homeopathic remedies
So what are they? What to do if traditional drugs do not help overcome childhood enuresis at night? Treatment with homeopathic remedies in some cases brings good results. The drug "Pulsatilla" helps in the presence of urinary tract infections. This tool can also be used to treat children with increased emotional excitability. "Gelsemium" is effective in case of relaxation of the muscles of the bladder in the event of stressful situations. Phosphorous medications help children who drink a lot of cold water. In case of urinary incontinence during coughing or laughing, Sepia is a good help.
Modern homeopathic medicines can very well cure enuresis, provided that the diagnosis has been made correctly.
Non-drug methods
What are they and what is their feature? What other methods can be used to combat a disease such as childhood nocturnal enuresis? Treatment with drugs does not always help, especially in cases where the cause of the disease lies in the psychological plane. Here are the factors that will help normalize the process of urination:
- Properly organized daily routine. Regulation of all processes will accustom the body to internal discipline. It is important that the baby eats, walks and sleeps during strictly defined hours. Teach your child not to eat 3 hours before bedtime.
- Workout for the bladder. The child should be able to control the process of urination.
- Motivation. Such therapy is a powerful tool for children suffering from nocturnal enuresis. However, it can only be used if the causes of the problem are psychological. For "dry" nights, the baby should be encouraged.
- Physiotherapy: electrophoresis, acupuncture, electrosleep, magnetotherapy, circular douche and therapeutic exercises improve the functioning of the brain and stimulate the work of nerve endings.
- Psychotherapy. With childhood enuresis, self-hypnosis techniques are very effective. However, they should be used only under the strict supervision of a specialist. Such exercises help restore the reflex connection between the central nervous system and the muscles of the bladder. With the pronounced nature of bedwetting, tools for depressive depression can be used. Particular attention should also be paid to creating a favorable psychological environment in the family.
ethnoscience
Let's dwell on this in more detail. The treatment of childhood enuresis with folk remedies deserves special attention. There are many effective recipes to completely get rid of the symptoms of the disease. They are tested by several generations in practice and contain only natural ingredients.
Consider the most popular recipes:
- A tablespoon of dill is brewed in a glass of boiling water and allowed to infuse for an hour. Infusion should be drunk in the morning before eating half a cup.
- From lingonberry berries cook compote with the addition of 2 tablespoons of rose hips. Infusion can be drunk several times a day. It has a calming effect on the nervous system of the body.
- Two tablespoons of rose hips are poured with a liter of boiling water and insisted. Drink instead of tea during the day. Rosehip strengthens nerve cells.
- Lingonberry leaves and berries (half a cup) should be boiled with 500 ml of water. The resulting broth is insisted for half an hour, filtered and drunk during the day.
- 30 grams of crushed leaves of plantain are brewed in 350 ml of hot water and allowed to infuse. The finished composition is taken 4 times a day for 10 grams.
- To alleviate the symptoms of enuresis, the collection of yarrow, knotweed, blackberry leaves and St. John's wort helps a lot. The ingredients are crushed and mixed in equal proportions. 10 grams of the finished mixture is poured into 300 ml of boiling water and insisted in a thermos for 2 hours. Take the infusion 5 times a day before meals.
How effective is the treatment of childhood enuresis with folk remedies? Such methods should be used only after consultation with a specialist. It is better to use them as an addition to the main treatment. Herbal preparations can also be used as a prophylactic.
Recommendations for parents
How to overcome children's enuresis? Treatment at home will not be effective if parents begin to rely only on the effectiveness of drugs. This is the main mistake. There are several universal recommendations for parents of children suffering from enuresis:
- Support the child, explain to him that many children face the same problem.
- Do not scold or punish your child for wet sheets. It is not his fault, but a physiological problem that you must solve with him.
- Do not wear a baby diaper at night. Often because of this, at the age of 4-5 years, children's enuresis occurs. The causes and treatment in this case will be very difficult to determine. A diaper is needed only in certain cases, for example, if you have a long road or a trip to visit. From a year and a half, the child should gradually forget about the existence of this subject, and the task of parents is to accustom it to the pot.
- Try to limit fluid intake in the evening. Give your child more fluids in the morning.
- Before going to bed, be sure to force the child to go to the toilet.
- Keep track of your baby’s daily routine. The child should go to bed no later than 9 pm.
- It is better to avoid excessive arousal before bedtime. Try not to arrange active games and watching scary movies.
- Sometimes parents wake the child at night to go to the toilet. However, doctors do not recommend doing this, since it is quite difficult to completely wake up the child, and he will do his work half asleep. If you have already decided to wake the child at night, then do this by fully bringing him into a conscious state. Otherwise, this will lead to the consolidation of the mechanism of enuresis.
- Many people prefer to treat children's enuresis with herbs. Alternative treatment is, of course, good, but you should not completely discount traditional therapy.
- If your child is afraid to be alone in the dark, leave him a night light. You can also try leaving the door to the parents bedroom open.
- Be sure to praise your child for dry nights.
- If the problem is psychological in nature, be sure to try herbal medicine for its treatment. Inhalations with sedative medicinal herbs such as mint, valerian, motherwort help. Coniferous baths give a good effect.
- Normalize relationships within the family. Try to deal with the school problems of the child.
- Approach the course of treatment should be with all responsibility. If you do not heal the disease, it can resume with the same strength.
Conclusion
In this review, we examined in detail what constitutes childhood enuresis at night. Information on the causes and treatment of this disease is also provided. Only a qualified specialist will be able to accurately diagnose on the basis of tests and examinations. Depending on the causes of the disease, various methods of therapy can be used.
However, the disease does not always arise as a result of some serious pathologies. Due to a simple violation of the daily routine, childhood enuresis can also develop. Treatment Dr. Komarovsky, a pediatrician with extensive experience, advises starting with the proper organization of the baby’s schedule.
If enuresis is caused by an infection and inflammation, you will definitely need to take medications. You can supplement the treatment also with folk remedies. Physiotherapy helps to achieve a good result.
Remember, love, care and support of loved ones is very important for any baby!