Bedwetting
(Nocturnal Enuresis)
David Perlstein, MD, MBA, FAAP
Dr. Perlstein received his Medical Degree from the University of Cincinnati and then completed his internship and residency in pediatrics at The New York Hospital, Cornell medical Center in New York City. After serving an additional year as Chief Pediatric Resident, he worked as a private practitioner and then was appointed Director of Ambulatory Pediatrics at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx.
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
- What is bedwetting?
- What are the types of bedwetting?
- What is primary bedwetting?
- What is the basic problem in primary bedwetting?
- Is primary bedwetting due to emotional problems?
- How is primary bedwetting treated?
- How common is secondary bedwetting?
- What causes secondary bedwetting?
- How is the cause of secondary bedwetting diagnosed?
- What is the treatment for secondary bedwetting?
- What is the outlook (prognosis) for children with bedwetting?
- Bedwetting At A Glance
- Find a local Pediatrician in your town
What is bedwetting?
Bedwetting, also called nocturnal enuresis, is the involuntary passage of urine (urinary incontinence) while asleep. Inherent in the definition of bedwetting is satisfactory bladder control while the person is awake. Therefore, urination while awake is a different condition and has a variety of difference causes than bedwetting.
What are the types of bedwetting?
There are two types of bedwetting:
- Primary
enuresis: bedwetting since infancy - Secondary
enuresis: wetting developed after being continually dry for a minimum of six months
What is primary bedwetting?
Primary bedwetting is viewed as a delay in maturation of the nervous system. At 5 years of age, approximately 20% of children wet the bed at least once a month, with about 5% of males and 1% of females wetting nightly. By 6 years of age, only about 10% of children are
What is the basic problem in primary bedwetting?
The fundamental problem for children with primary bedwetting is the inability to recognize messages of the nervous system sent by the full bladder to the sleep arousal centers of the brain while asleep. In addition, bladder capacity is often smaller in bedwetting children than in their peers.
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