Bed-wetting Essay, Research Paper

Bed-wetting, or enuresis, is

involuntary urination that usually occurs during

sleep. It is common in children up to age 5, and

about 15 percent of older children aged 5 to 13

also have bed-wetting episodes. The precise

cause is unknown, but it may be due to delayed

development of bladder capacity, constipation, or

diseases, such as urinary tract infection, kidney

disease, or diabetes mellitus. Emotionally stressful

events, such as hospitalization or loss of a parent,

may contribute to enuresis. In most cases children

outgrow the problem, but persistent cases require

a physical examination in case there is an

underlying medical problem. Enuresis not caused

by a physical problem can be halted with effective

behavior-modification therapies. Another

technique uses a battery-operated urinary alarm

that is set off by wetting; eventually the child learns

to waken before the alarm. In rare cases the drug

imipramine is prescribed. Bibliography: Welford,

Heather, Toilet Training and Bed Wetting (1988).