The constant washing of bedding and the feeling of shame - these are the memories that remain in people who suffered from childhood enuresis (bedwetting). This painful problem of children and parents is quite widespread. In the United States alone, this unpleasant affliction torments approximately five million children. Despite the fact that very serious research work is being carried out and there are even centers for providing assistance, bedwetting continues to spoil the lives of families. What can be done? How to help children and adults overcome this disorder?
What is this ailment?
Involuntary nighttime urine leakage at such an age when the child is quite able to control the process of urination (usually older than 3 years) is observed in every fifth child, after 5 years - in every 10th, and after 14 years every 35th child suffers . We can conclude: over time, bedwetting passes. Therefore, the most acceptable way of parents' behavior is to wait. If you have patience, then one day suddenly you will find that the child is no longer urinating in bed!
As a rule, boys are more likely to have enuresis than girls. In addition, it has been established that this disorder is hereditary - it often happens that bedwetting is also characteristic of someone else from the children, or one of the parents suffered from it.
Probable causes of the disease
Quite rarely, the cause can be an organic disease:
• diabetes;
• infection or abnormality of the genitourinary system;
• food allergy;
• failure of the nervous system.
An organic disease is usually diagnosed if:
• enuresis is observed in a child after 6 years;
• the child spontaneously urinates, not only at night, but also during the day;
• a certain period of improvement may again give way to relapse.
In these cases, you need to examine the child to determine the cause of the violation.
In other cases, doctors believe that bedwetting is not caused by a mental disorder and occurs unintentionally. This is not even considered a nervous disease.
There is no single opinion about the reasons. Some believe that the blame for the small volume of the bladder, sometimes - the delayed development of reflexes to control the work of the bladder, sleep disturbances, heredity. Sometimes several of these factors affect immediately.
If the parents notice that for six months everything was in order in the child, and then this condition suddenly appeared again, it means that the cause may be an emotional disorder or some kind of illness. The catalyst may be moving, the appearance of a stepfather or stepmother, the divorce of parents or some other family event.
However, contrary to popular belief, such emotional causes as guilt, inferiority, timidity, loss of self-esteem more often arise as a result of enuresis, and are not the cause of this disorder.
How to behave to parents?
Bedwetting in children is a process that the child cannot regulate in any way. Therefore, it is completely useless to be mad at him, let alone threaten or punish him. The best thing you can do is, on the contrary, try to reduce the emotional stress on the psyche of the child. Show attention to him and do everything possible so that he is less shy. Do not inform others of his troubles, adding to his suffering. Believe that over time this condition will stop, and you will begin to live a normal life again.
What are the treatments for bedwetting?
There are some types of treatment that are quite effective in some cases, although doctors advise starting it no earlier than 6 years.
You can take some precautions, including before bedtime:
• reduction in the amount of liquid, especially containing caffeine;
• alarm system when a child is woken up by an alarm clock so that he goes to the toilet;
• during the day to teach the child to gradually keep an increasing amount of urine in the bladder;
• acupuncture;
• herbal treatment;
• medication (should be used with great care and only under medical supervision);
• praise of parents if the child does not urinate, relieves emotional stress and leads to recovery.
Be a friend to your child in this difficult time for him, and the disease will surely recede.
Bedwetting in women is also a fairly common occurrence.
The reason may be the following factors:
• Pregnancy, when the fetus can put pressure on the bladder of the future mother;
• intense physical activity, such as athletes;
• menopause;
• obesity;
• diabetes;
• inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system;
• transferred surgical operations.
It is noted that this disorder worries women most often after 40 years.