Bedwetting

Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D., [2] Phone:216-444-5595 Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Section of Urologic Oncology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

Bedwetting is involuntary urination while asleep after the age at which bladder control would normally be anticipated.

Bedwetting is the most common childhood urologic complaint ^[1] and one of the most common pediatric-health issues.^[2]Most bedwetting, however, is just a developmental delay—not an emotional problem or physical illness. Only a small percentage (5% to 10%) of bedwetting cases are caused by specific medical situations.^[3] Bedwetting is frequently associated with a family history of the condition.^[4] Most girls can stay dry by age six and most boys stay dry by age seven. By ten years old, 95% of children are dry at night. Studies place adult bedwetting rates at between 0.5% to 2.3%.^[5]

The main symptom is involuntary urination, usually at night, that occurs at least twice per month.

A urinalysis will be done to rule out infection or diabetes.

X-rays of the kidneys and bladders and other studies are not needed unless there is reason to suspect some other problems.

Treatments range from behavioral-based options such as bedwetting alarms, to medication such as hormone replacement, and even surgery such as urethral enlargement. Since most bedwetting is simply a developmental delay, most treatment plans aim to protect or improve self-esteem.^[3] Bedwetting children and adults can suffer emotional stress or psychological injury if they feel shamed by the condition. Treatment guidelines recommend that the physician counsel the parents, warning about psychological damage caused by pressure, shaming, or punishment for a condition children cannot control.^[3]

Getting plenty of sleep and going to the bathroom at regular times during the day and night can help prevent some aspects of bedwetting.

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Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D., [2] Phone:216-444-5595 Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Section of Urologic Oncology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

Psychologists may use a definition from the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM-IV, defining nocturnal enuresis as repeated urination into bed or clothes, occurring twice per week for at least 3 consecutive months in a child of at least 5 years of age and not due to either a drug side effect or a medical condition. Even if the case does not meet this criteria, the DSM-IV definition allows psychologists to diagnose nocturnal enuresis if the wetting causes the patient clinically significant distress. [3]

Other definitions cast themselves as more “practical” guidance, saying that bedwetting can be considered a “clinical problem” if the child is unable to keep the bed dry by age seven. [4]

D’Alessandro refines this to bedwetting more than 2x/month after the age:

• 6 years for females
• 7 years for males. [5]

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Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D., [2] Phone:216-444-5595 Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Section of Urologic Oncology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

An early psychological perspective on bedwetting was given in 1025 by Avicenna in The Canon of Medicine:^[1]

“Urinating in bed is frequently predisposed by deep sleep: when urine begins to flow, its inner nature and hidden will (resembling the will to breathe) drives urine out before the child awakes. When children become stronger and more robust, their sleep is lighter and they stop urinating.”

Psychological theory through the 1960s placed much greater focus on the possibility that a bedwetting child might be acting out, purposefully striking back against parents by soiling linens and bedding. (More recent research and medical literature states that this is very rare.)^[2][3]

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Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D., [2] Phone:216-444-5595 Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Section of Urologic Oncology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

The condition is divided into two types: Primary Nocturnal Enuresis (PNE) and Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis.

Primary enuresis occurs when a child is beyond the age at which bladder control would normally be anticipated and:

• Continues to average at least two wet nights a week with no long periods of dryness, or
• Would not sleep dry without being taken to the toilet by another person

Some medical definitions list Primary Nocturnal Enuresis (PNE) as a clinical condition at between 4-5 years old. This type of classification is frequently used by insurance companies. It defines PNE as “Persistent bedwetting in the absence of any urologic, medical or neurological anomaly in a child beyond the age when over 75% of children are normally dry.”[3]

Secondary enuresis occurs after a patient goes through an extended period of dryness at night (approx. 6 months or more) and then reverts to night-time wetting. Secondary enuresis can be caused by emotional stress or a medical condition, such as a bladder infection. [4]

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Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D., [2] Phone:216-444-5595 Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Section of Urologic Oncology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

Most bedwetting can be described as, “a bothersome alteration in normal development.” [3] The usual development process is:

• Infants: Void by reflex
• One- and two-year olds: Bladder grows larger and the brain develops the ability to sense bladder fullness (McLorie & Husmann, 1987)
• Two- and three-year olds: Develop the ability to void or inhibit voiding
• Four- and five-year-olds: Develop an adult pattern of urinary control

Children usually achieve nighttime dryness by developing one or both of two abilities. There appear to be some hereditary factors in how and when these develop.

• One is a hormone cycle in which a minute burst of antidiuretic hormone happens daily at about sunset reducing kidney output of urine well into the night so the bladder doesn’t get full until morning. This hormone cycle is not present at birth. Many children develop it between the ages of two and six years old, others between six and the end of puberty, and some not at all.
• The other is the ability to awaken before wetting. The body normally develops the ability to wake when the bladder is full.

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Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D., [2] Phone:216-444-5595 Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Section of Urologic Oncology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

Only a small percentage of bedwetting is caused by an infection, physical abnormality, or other specifically identifiable cause.

Most bedwetting is caused by neurological-developmental problems involving multiple factors. Most bedwetting children are simply delayed in developing the ability to stay dry and have no other developmental issues. When there are other neurological-developmental issues, these can range from mild to severe.[3]

Less than 5% of all bedwetting cases are caused by infection or disease, the most common of which is a urinary tract infection. Infections and disease are more strongly connected to secondary nocturnal enuresis and with daytime wetting.[4]

Bedwetting has a strong genetic component. Children whose parents were not enuretic have only a 15% incidence of bedwetting. When one or both parents were bedwetters, the rates jump to 44% and 77% respectively.[5] Genetic research shows that bedwetting is associated with the genes 13q and 12q (possibly 5 and 22 also). [6]

Less than 10% of enuretics have urinary tract abnormalities, such as a smaller than normal bladder. Current data does support increased bladder tone in some enuretics, which functionally would decrease bladder capacity.[7]

A portion of bedwetting children do not produce enough of the Anti-Diuretic Hormone. Normally ADH increases at night. This increase doesn’t occur in child enuretics, but does occur in adolescent enuretics. The diurnal change may not be seen until ~age 10. [8]

Stress is controversial as a possible cause of bedwetting. Some sources report that, “Psychologists and other mental health professionals regularly report that children begin wetting the bed during times of conflict at home or school. Dramatic changes in home and family life also appear to lead some children to wet the bed. Moving to a new town, parent conflict or divorce, arrival of a new baby, or loss of a loved one or pet can cause insecurity that contributes to bedwetting.”[9]
Other sources contradict this, saying, “Doctors have found no relationship to social background, life stresses, family constellation, or number of residencies.” [10]

In rare cases, bedwetting is a symptom of a more severe underlying psychological problem. Medical guidance for doctors state that this is a relatively rare occurrence.[11] [12] When Enuresis is caused by a psychological disorder, the bedwetting is considered a symptom of the disorder. Enuresis does have a psychological diagnosis code (see previous), but it is not considered a psychological problem itself.[13] (See section on psychological/social impact, below)

Caffeine increases urine production. [14]

For some patients, food allergies may be part of the cause. This link is not well established, requiring further research. [15][16]

Sleep issues are another controversial potential cause of bedwetting.

• Sleep apnea stemming from upper airway obstruction has been associated with enuresis. This can be signaled by snoring and enlarged tonsils or adenoids [17]
• Many parents report that their bedwetting children are heavy sleepers. Research in this has some contradictory results. Studies show that children wet the bed during all phases of sleep, not just the deepest (stage four). A recent study, however, showed that enuretic children were harder to wake [18] Some literature does show a possible connection between sleep disorders and ADH production. Insufficient ADH might make it more difficult to transition from light sleep to being awake. [19]

Chronic constipation can cause bedwetting. When the bowels are full, it can put pressure on the bladder. [20]

Children with ADHD are 2.7 time more likely to have bedwetting issues. [21]

This is another disputed cause of bedwetting. This theory was more widely supported in the last century and is still cited by some authors today. Some say bedwetting can be caused by toilet training that is started too early or is too forceful. Recent research has shown more mixed results and a connection to toilet training has not been proved or disproved.[22]

Anecdotal reports and folk wisdom says children who handle dandelions can end up wetting the bed.Dandelions are reputed to be a potent diuretic.^[1] English folknames for the plant are “peebeds” and “pissabeds”.^[2] In French dandelions are called pissenlit, which means “urinate in bed”; likewise “piscialletto”, an Italian folkname, and “meacamas” in Spanish.^[3]

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Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D., [2] Phone:216-444-5595 Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Section of Urologic Oncology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

Bedwetting is the most common childhood urologic complaint ^[1] and one of the most common pediatric-health issues.^[2] Most bedwetting, however, is just a developmental delay—not an emotional problem or physical illness. Only a small percentage (5% to 10%) of bedwetting cases are caused by specific medical situations.^[3] Bedwetting is frequently associated with a family history of the condition.^[4] Most girls can stay dry by age six and most boys stay dry by age seven. By ten years old, 95% of children are dry at night. Studies place adult bedwetting rates at between 0.5% to 2.3%.^[5]

Males are more likely to wet the bed than females. Males make up 60% of bed-wetters overall and make up more than 90% of those who wet nightly (Schmitt, 1997).

Doctors frequently consider bedwetting as a self-limiting problem, since most children will grow out of it.

Approximate bedwetting rates are:

• Age 5: 20%
• Age 6: 10 to 15%
• Age 7: 7%
• Age 10: 5%
• Age 15: 1-2%
• Age 18-64: 0.5%-1% [3]

Children 5 to 9 years old have a spontaneous cure rate of 14% per year. Adolescents 10 to 18 years old have a spontaneous cure rate of 16% per year.

As can be seen from the numbers above, 5% to 10% of bedwetting children will not outgrow the problem, leaving 0.5% to 1% of adults still dealing with bedwetting. [4]Individuals who are still enuretic at age 18 are likely to deal with bedwetting throughout their lives. Adult rates of bedwetting show little change due to spontaneous cure. [5]

Studies of bedwetting in adults have found varying rates. The most-quoted study in this area was done in the Netherlands. It found a 0.5% rate for 18-64 year olds. A Hong Kong study, however, found a much higher rate. The Hong Kong researchers found a bedwetting rate of 2.3% in 16 to 40 year olds. [6]

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Editor(s)-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Steven C. Campbell, M.D., Ph.D., [2] Phone:216-444-5595 Professor of Surgery, Residency Program Director, Section of Urologic Oncology, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

• Complications may develop if a physical cause of the disorder is overlooked.

• Psychosocial complications may arise if the problem is not dealt with effectively in a timely manner. A review of medical literature shows doctors consistently stressing that a bedwetting child is not at fault for the situation. Many medical studies state that the psychological impacts of bedwetting are more important than the physical considerations. “It is often the child’s and family member’s reaction to bedwetting that determines whether it is a problem or not.”[3]
  • Studies show that bedwetting children are more likely to have behavioral problems. For children with developmental problems, both the behavioral problems and the bedwetting are frequently part of the developmental issues. For bedwetting children without other developmental issues, these behavioral issues can result from self-esteem issues and stress caused by the wetting.[4]
  • Psycholgists report that the amount of psychological harm depends on whether the bedwetting harms self-esteem or development of social skills. Key factors are:[5]
    • How much the bedwetting limits social activities like sleep-overs and campouts
    • The degree of the social ostracism by peers
    • Anger, punishment, and rejection by caregivers
  • Psychological theory through the 1960s placed much greater focus on the possibility that a bedwetting child might be acting out, purposefully striking back against parents by soiling linens and bedding. More recent research and medical literature states that this is very rare.
  • Medical literature states and studies show that punishing or shaming a child for bedwetting will frequently make the situation worse. Doctors describe a downward cycle where a child punished for bedwetting feels shame and a loss of self-confidence. This can cause increased bedwetting incidents, leading to more punishment/shaming, “an escalating cycle of wetting accidents and shame.” [6]
  • In the United States, about 35% of enuretic children are punished for wetting the bed.[7] In Hong Kong, 57% of enuretic children are punished for wetting. [8]
  • Parents with only a grade-school level education punish bed-wetting children at twice the rate of high school- and college-educated parents. [9]
  • Parents and family members are frequently stressed by a child’s bedwetting. Soiled linens and clothing cause additional laundry. Wetting episodes can cause lost sleep if the child wakes and/or cries, waking the parents. A European study estimated that a family with a child who wets nightly will pay about $1,000 a year for additional laundry, extra sheets, disposable absorbent garments such as diapers, and mattress replacement. [10]
  • Despite these stressful effects, doctors emphasize that parents should react patiently and supportively.[11]
  • Bedwetting children feel effects ranging from feeling cold on waking, being teased by siblings, being punished by parents, and being afraid that friends will find out. Whether bedwetting causes low self-esteem remains a subject of debate, but several studies have found that self-esteem improved with management of the condition.[12]
  • Children questioned in one study ranked bedwetting as the third most stressful life event, after parental divorce and parental fighting. Adolescents in the same study ranked bedwetting as tied for second with parental fighting.[13]

• The condition poses no threat to the health of the child if there is no physical cause of bedwetting.
• The child may feel embarrassment or have a loss of self-esteem because of the problem. It is important to reassure the child.Most children respond to some type of treatment.

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