Bedwetting Treatment

General principles

Bedwetting is typically seen more as a social disturbance than a medical disease. It creates embarrassment and anxiety in the child and sometimes conflict with parents. The single most important thing parents can and should do is to be supportive and reassuring rather than blaming and punishing. Primary nocturnal enuresis has a very high rate of spontaneous resolution of approximately 15% per year.

The many treatment options range from home remedies to drugs, even surgery for children with anatomical problems.

• Underlying medical or emotional conditions should first be ruled out.



• If there is an underlying condition, it should be treated and eradicated.



• If bedwetting persists once these steps are taken, however, there is considerable debate as to how and when to treat.

Treatment of uncomplicated bedwetting is not appropriate for children younger than 5 years of age.

• Because a majority of children 5 years and older spontaneously stop bedwetting without any treatment, many medical professionals generally choose to observe the child until age 7.



• The age at which to treat, then, depends on the attitudes of the child, the parents/caregivers, and the health-care provider.