Bedwetting
Bedwetting, or nocturnal enuresis, is involuntary urination during sleep in a child or adult old enough that night-time dryness would usually be expected.
Key takeaways
- Primary bedwetting that has never resolved differs from new wetting after at least six dry months.
- Constipation, daytime urinary symptoms, snoring, excess thirst and psychosocial stress can reveal treatable contributors.
- Alarms build long-term bladder response, while desmopressin provides temporary control for selected situations and has fluid-safety rules.
The listings below are not suitable without assessing the pattern; kidney, heart and fluid-balance risks affect medicine use.
What assessment asks
A bladder and fluid diary can show night-time urine volume and daytime habits. Urine testing may be needed when symptoms are new or include pain, frequency or thirst. Bedwetting is not the child’s fault; punishment increases distress without improving bladder control.
Treatment choices
Address constipation and establish regular daytime toileting first. A moisture alarm requires consistent family support but can produce durable dryness. Desmopressin reduces urine production for a night or treatment period; excess evening fluid can cause dangerous low sodium, so instructions must be followed precisely.
When to seek urgent care
Seek prompt assessment for bedwetting with painful urination, fever, back pain, marked thirst, weight loss, weakness or new neurological symptoms. After desmopressin, headache, vomiting, confusion or seizure is an emergency.