Contrary to popular belief, bed-wetting--also known as nocturnal enuresis--is not a mental or behavioral problem, Family Doctor says. Pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene reports that more than 5 million children in the United States suffer from bed-wetting. There are many causes. Some are related to development; others are related to underlying conditions.
Genetic Factors
There is documented evidence that a child whose parents wet the bed is more likely to have bed-wetting problems. In fact, according to Dry at Night, a child has a 77 percent chance of suffering from bed wetting when both parents had nocturnal enuresis. Studies published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information report that nocturnal enuresis follows an autosomal dominant inheritance with genes found on chromosomes 12 and 13.
Delayed Development
Some children experience bed-wetting due to delayed development. The ability to hold urine is a combined effort of the muscle in the bladder wall and the central nervous system. When the bladder is full, nerves in the bladder wall send signals to the brain, which returns with a signal to void. When the nerves are not fully developed, the signals to and from the brain may be interrupted. This results in the inability to hold urine, especially at night. The fact that a delay in development plays a role in bed-wetting is evidenced by the fact that most children outgrow bed-wetting on their own, as published in Pediatrics.
Small Bladder
Some children who suffer from bed-wetting have a bladder capacity smaller than normal for their age. This means their bladder isn't able to hold as much volume as it should. As a result, it must empty more often, making it difficult to sleep through the night without needing to urinate. In this case, it may help to perform bladder training exercises. To do this, ask the child to begin holding her urine an extra 15 minutes or so past when she feels the urge to urinate. This helps to stretch and strengthen the muscle in the bladder wall. Increase the time by 15 additional minutes every few weeks until the child is able to urinate only every two to three hours, as described by UpToDate for Patients. These exercises can help the child be able to hold her urine through the night.
Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria--usually E. coli--get into the urethra, bladder or kidneys. Urinary tract infections are common in children, according to Pediatrician Dr. Alan Greene, especially in girls. Symptoms of a urinary tract infection include frequent urination, painful urination, abdominal pain and sometimes a fever. The need to urinate frequently often leads to nighttime bed-wetting.
