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Medical Author:

John Mersch, MD, FAAP

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Prevention

There really is no way to prevent bedwetting.

Outlook

Bedwetting can damage the child's self-image and confidence. The best way to prevent this is to be supportive. Parents should reassure the child that bedwetting is a common problem and that they, the parents, are confident that the child will overcome the problem.

Every year, 15% of school-aged children who wet the bed become dry without specific treatment.

• Although 15%-20% of 5-year-olds wet their beds, only 7% of 8-year-olds wet the bed.



• It is estimated that 1% of adults wet their bed regularly.

It is difficult to estimate the effectiveness of treatment, but cure rates range from 10%-60% with drugs to 70%-90% with alarms and parent awakening.

• Nearly all bedwetting problems can be cured with single or combination therapy.



• Some people do, however, need to have long-term drug therapy.