Enuresis, involuntary urination during sleep by a child over 3 years of age, is very common in childhood. It affects both parents and children and can last for some time. Let's take a look at how to treat enuresis problems.
It is common to make mistakes on blankets until the age of five, and this problem can occur both day and night. However, when the problem continues to occur as children grow older, it is called enuresis or involuntary urination. It can be a very uncomfortable problem for both children and adults.
In this article, I will explain in detail the treatment of enuresis or involuntary urination. I hope you read through!
What is night enuresis?
Enuresis is a medical term that means involuntary urination. It can occur during the day or most often at night.
This problem is very common among young children, and it actually affects 12% of 6 years old and 7% of 10 years old. It also affects men more and generally disappears during adolescence. In a few cases, however, the problem persists and affects people over the age of 20. Then it causes a variety of social and psychological problems.
The newborn infant urinates automatically as a reflex through the spinal cord center when the bladder is full. As the child grows older and if properly trained by the mother, the brain takes control over urination and regulates it during sleep. The average time of acquiring this control is about 2 years but some children take longer. If the child continues to wet the bed after the age of three, a physician should be consulted.
Involuntary urination is a normal phenomenon that occurs at certain stages of child development. Most children are unable to control the bladder and sphincter before the age of 3 years. Nocturnal enuresis at this stage is normal for young children, so it is not a big problem.
But from this age, children learn how to control their bladder. You can then know when your bladder fills and control when you need to go to the bathroom. However, night control is more difficult to achieve and takes longer. Therefore, nocturnal enuresis is very common in children up to the age of three to four years.
Scale, frequency of enuresis diagnosis -
Currently, doctors have several diagnostic criteria, all depending on the frequency of the enuresis problem.
To be diagnosed with enuresis, this problem must occur once or twice a week. It is important to evaluate each case individually to receive a good diagnosis and treatment.
Also, the treatment and frequency are not the same in children and teenagers aged 5 years. In young children, this problem is normal, but in teenagers, it can be diagnosed with a single occurrence.
Causes of night enuresis-
This problem almost always occurs because the child cannot control the bladder while sleeping. The child unconsciously urinates without knowing that the bladder is full. Enuresis is often attributable to poor parental training or emotional disturbances.
In nursery schools, youngsters sometimes wet their clothes during the daytime because they are too interested in their play and games to bother to go to the toilet and also because there have a false sense of modesty and are too embarrassed to do so.
And in a few cases, this phenomenon is related to other diseases. For example, it could be related to diabetes or other problems in the urinary system. In this case, enuresis occurs even during the day, and treatment methods are very different.
Enuresis treatment-
In most cases, this situation does not require treatment. And if this problem occurs in a child under the age of 5, it is considered a normal and temporary problem. This is because when the children are bigger, they disappear by themselves.
However, there are specific guidelines that can help children experience this problem less. These guidelines actually constitute behavioral therapy that explains the cause of the problem to both parents and children. This will minimize the problem.
Here are some tips you can follow:-
- Explain to your child that there is no need to be ashamed of the situation. Let your child know that it is normal because of the way the urinary system works.
- Don't scold or embarrass your child.
- Don't wake up your child at night. Also, don't limit how much water your child drinks.
- They should be taught to avoid cola, coffee, and tea at any time and to avoid milk, cocoa, and other fluids after 5 p.m. Before dinner, they may drink water or milk freely. Dinner must be dry, but a piece of orange or apple may be sucked to relieve thirst.
- It is recommended to make a schedule for going to the bathroom. That way, children can learn how to control their bladder.
- Explain to your child that they should drink more during the day and less during bedtime.
- The child should empty the bladder immediately before going to bed.
- In fact, using diapers doesn't help with the problem. It just confuses your child and prevents them from learning how to control the bladder.
Drugs are used only in the most extreme cases. In these cases, drugs are used to reduce the urge to urinate or to control sleep.
In conclusion, nocturnal enuresis is common in young children, but it is important to pay attention also. Behavioral therapy and continued family support are important to overcome this.
It is also important to review each case with an expert. They will be able to figure out if there are other problems behind them.
