Bedwetting, voiding or nocturnal enuresis is defined as the involuntary passage of urine in a child aged five or older. To be considered bed wetting, it must be in the absence of any other medial condition such as congenital defects or conditions of the nervous and urinary tract systems.

Voiding or ‘bed wetting’ is a condition that affects roughly 5-7million children per year over the age of six in the United States. In many circumstances parents are too uncomfortable or embarrassed to discuss their child’s bedwetting as they feel it reflects on them as a parent. Of course, the parents aren’t the only ones that are embarrassed. Children will too feel ashamed and embarrassed by their problem and are fearful that friends will learn about it. It is important for parents and children to understand that bedwetting resolves at a rate of 15 percent per year, so most children will outgrow it.

Only five to ten percent of children who suffer from enuresis are found to have a physical abnormality. Only one to three percent of adolescents over age sixteen are troubled by nocturnal enuresis

As for treatment of bed wetting, most children will outgrow their bed-wetting habits. As children mature, their muscles will become stronger and their bladder capacity will increase. However, if treatment is necessary there are two approaches – medical or behavioral.

Medical treatment will consist of one of the following drugs imipramine or desmpressin acetate. Imipramine is an antidepressant that is though to improve the child’s sleeping pattern whereas desmpressin acetate will help the child’s body produce less urine.

Behavioral treatment is often more effective and certainly is safer than medical treatment.  While behavioral treatment may take somewhat longer to show results, the improvement usually continues indefinitely.  There are several methods that may be helpful including retention control training, hypnotherapy and moisture alarms.

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