by Latoya Wills

Created on: May 26, 2008   Last Updated: May 28, 2008

Enuresis is a condition in which children urinate in places other then the toilet. Adults can get enuresis as well, but most of the time it is caused by medical conditions like diabetes and therefore is referred to as incontinence. Enuresis is commonly referred to as "bedwetting" but there are different enuresis' that affects children without being in a bed at all.

Symptoms- Symptoms are most commonly repeated bed-wetting, wetting of the clothes, and wetting at least 2 times a week for about 3 months. This is true whether the child has diurnal (daytime wetting) nocturnal (nighttime wetting) or sleep (wetting while asleep which can occur with sleepwalking) enuresis.

Causes- Involuntary enuresis can be caused by a small bladder, persistent urinary tract infections, stress, or developmental delays . Children can also be diagnosed with voluntary enuresis that most medical professionals conclude can be caused by behavioral and emotional disorders. Research has also brought to light that enuresis may run in families, which could play a major part in treating enuresis before in becomes a major issue for parent and child.

Diagnosis- A doctor's diagnosis depends mostly on a full review of the child's medical history. It is the physician's job to rule out medical disorders, physical conditions or the side effect of medicines for the cause of the enuresis. Once all of those possible causes are ruled out, treatment can begin for enuresis based on the described behaviors and symptoms.

Treatment- Some parents can expect for their children to grow out of mild cases of enuresis. Therefore they might want to purchase mattress pads, and Goodnights, which are underpants for children with enuresis. For other more severe cases therapy is suggested and has a high success rate. Alarm therapy is a method of using an alarm to sound when the bed becomes wet. This will help the child respond to bladder sensations so they can begin to learn how to listen to their bodies. Bladder training is a technique that uses a pre-set schedule of bathroom trips in order to ease the child into a routine. The routine is changed as process is being made so that the child holds their urine for longer periods. The bladder training technique also helps to make the bladder muscle stronger. Along with treatment there is usually a reward system in place to encourage the child and this helps to promote positive progress. Children can be treated with medications to help treat enuresis. Desmopressin acetate affects

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