Bedwetting or enuresis or urinary incontinence is normal in babies, and children of the age five or six. It is a part of the growing up process, and children generally outgrow the habit on their own. But in some cases, it continues even when it ideally should have stopped. It is also seen in adults, and it is a fact that bedwetting troubles one or two in every hundred adult individuals.

There are two kinds of bedwetting - primary and secondary. In primary nocturnal enuresis, the problem in the person is since childhood and in secondary nocturnal enuresis the problem can affect the person at any time.

Bedwetting in children is a cause of concern for many parents, and seeks attention and treatment. The child has to face many embarrassing moments, and this indirectly hampers the confidence of the child. Thus, emotional support along with some treatment needs to be given to the child, to help him get over the problem.

Some treatment options to help reduce this problem have also been discussed. Hormones play a big role in shaping us the way we are. The level of hormones should be balanced for proper growth and development of the body. An imbalance in hormones can cause many problems in a person. Before proceeding to the treatment methods, let's first discuss the causes for this problem, in brief.

Causes of Bedwetting

Primary Causes: Small bladder capacity (bladder is the organ that holds urine, and controls the flow of urine), stress, deep sleep, abnormalities in the spinal cord, are some of the common causes of this condition in children and adults.

Hormones and Bedwetting: Science also links bedwetting with hormonal changes. Anti-diuretic Hormone (ADH) is a hormone that controls or slows the production of urine at night. In some people, the hormone is not produced in enough quantity, and this leads to the production of more urine in the bladder at night. Thus, to control the urine production, some measures are needed. Medication like desmopressin helps reduce the amount of urine that is produced.

Treatment of Bedwetting

Use of desmopressin is the only remedy to boost the production of ADH. But, this medication should only be taken under the recommendation of the doctor. The use of medications is also preferred when other treatment options and remedies fail to show any results. This is because majority of these medications are antidepressants, and are associated with side effects.

There are plenty of other ways that can reduce bedwetting in children. The use of medications generally depends on the underlying cause. Medication like the anti-cholinergic drugs such as oxybutynin or hyoscyamine helps in increasing the bladder size and or reduces the contractions of the bladder.

Other treatment procedures focus on therapies that help control the bedwetting. Parents can help control this condition in children, by lending a lot of emotional support and understanding. The habit of going for urination before going to bed should be instilled in children.

In adults and children, the consumption of caffeine and chocolate should be kept to a minimum because these foods are said to increase the frequency of urination. One should avoid eating these foods in the evening hours, to avoid wetting the bed at night.

Bedwetting is a serious issue and if hormonal imbalance is a reason for it, the help of a medical expert should be sought for the safest of treatment.