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Teen Bedwetting
More frequent than you think
No matter what your age, talking about bladder issues is never easy. Teens, who are not always open or willing to talk, can find it even harder. Most do not want to discuss it with doctors, parents, and certainly not with friends. Still, such problems are much more common than you may think.
Bladder problems involve many issues, including infection and loss of control. Teens are most often affected by night enuresis, or bedwetting. Enuresis is the medical term for being unable to control when you pass urine. Although enuresis can happen at any time of the day or night, it is most commonly associated with sleep.
Enuresis is a complicated issue, classified in two ways. Primary nocturnal (night) enuresis, or bedwetting, is more common. It has happened continuously since birth. If someone has had bladder control for at least six months, and then begins to wet, it is called secondary enuresis.
We may think that bedwetting is very rare in teens. However, it actually affects one to three per cent – a large number of people. In some cases, it is associated with ADHD. It also tends to run in families. Although parents may have had the same problem, they might not talk about it.
The condition is distressing for anyone, but especially for a teen. During the teen years independence is growing. Fear of bedwetting can be very traumatic, especially the idea of it happening away from home. Teens can become socially insecure, missing out on chances to travel or leave home.
Possible causes
One or more of the following issues may contribute to enuresis at night.
- Hormone issues - some people with bedwetting issues produce too much urine at night compared to their peers. This may be due to a lack of anti-diuretic hormone, which reduces the amount of urine produced.
- Deep sleep - teens with bedwetting issues are often described as very sound sleepers. Parents say their child could sleep through a bomb blast. Such deep sleep may translate into an inability to sense bladder fullness at night, which in most cases wakes us up to use the bathroom.
- Behaviour issues - this is complex, and typically does not play a large role in bedwetting. Certainly, if a teen often drinks a lot of liquid late at night, this can contribute to the problem.
- Genetics - this problem can be inherited.
- Bladder problems - some teens may have irritable or ‘small’ bladders that make them more at risk for accidents at night.
Pinpointing the problem
Diagnosis of primary nocturnal enuresis is not made through any specific blood or urine tests or x-rays. In most cases, there is a history of continuous night wetting, without daytime problems or symptoms involving bowel function. Diagnosis is confirmed if the problem is continuous and no other illness can be found.
The doctor may examine the genitals, ask questions and do tests to gain information about the nervous system. This helps rule out other conditions linked to bladder control problems. A urine test can indicate infection or other problems. In most cases such tests are normal, so diagnosis is made based on what is happening.
Finding a solution
Once diagnosis is made, the problem can be treated. First, know that you are not alone. A bedwetting problem does not mean that you are different, weird or immature.
Keep in mind that this is a normal delay in development. It is not a significant long-term issue. On average, after age five, 15 per cent of kids who do not have bladder control will become dry each year.
Many treatments are available for night enuresis. One of the simplest involves cutting down on drinks taken late at night. By limiting liquids after suppertime, particularly those with caffeine, less urine may be produced at night. There is less chance of wetting and less volume if it does happen.
Another treatment option involves a bed alarm. When the mattress alarm becomes wet, it sounds. The idea is that the person learns to wake when the bladder is full. Unfortunately, many teens with this problem are very sound sleepers. As a result the bed alarm often wakes everyone else in the family except the teen.
Medication is another option. Most commonly, medical therapy targets the issue of too much urine being produced at night. If too little anti-diuretic hormone is being produced, medication can be prescribed. The most common trade name drug used for this is DDAVP™. It is available both as a tablet and a nasal spray. It is highly effective for many people, and is usually well tolerated with rare side effects.
Bedwetting is a common bladder problem for teens. Keep in mind that it should not be an isolating condition. By understanding that they are not alone and that treatment exists, teens are taking the first step to correct the problem.
FAMILY HEALTH is written with the assistance of |
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FAMILY HEALTH is written with the assistance of |
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