Causes of Enuresis

In most incidents of bedwetting there is no disease that causes enuresis. A genuine organic or medical cause is only identified in a low 2-3% of children suffering from bedwetting.

When should you consult a doctor?

Consider if your child’s enuresis is primary or secondary (see definition of enuresis). If a child develops sudden onset bedwetting after having achieved night time dryness, you should consult with you physician. This could be a sign of anxiety or stress, diabetes, bladder or kidney infection or a seizure.

If you have any other concerns about the normal behaviour of your child you should consult a doctor. Children with behavioural problems such as ADD, ADHD, apergers and autism have a higher incidence of bedwetting.

Discuss a referral for counseling for the family and your child with your GP if you believe anxiety or stress to be a cause of your child’s enuresis. A stable family is the best environment for a child. Children in families where marital strife is constant and  children in solo parent families have a slightly higher statistical incidence of enuresis.

In general, intake of fluids and diet are not main causes of enuresis.

These are considered to be the main causes of enuresis:

* Genetic factors ( ie  A family history of enuresis)

* Delayed maturation of bladder control

* Small bladder capacity

* High production of urine during the night

*  Deep sleep with delayed development of the trigger to arouse from sleep

* Urinary tract infection

* Chronic constipation can cause irritation of the bladder, which may then result in more frequent urination.

* Sleep apnea (ie short periods when breathing stops during sleep) This decreases oxygen levels and can make a child sleep more deeply and be less responsive to the urging of a full bladder and therefore unable to wake when they need to urinate.

* A stressful event (ie the birth of a sibling, the first week of school, being bullied at school, abuse,  a death in the family, a parent’s going away)