Enuresis is the medical term for bed wetting and typically involves a child more than the age of five. Enuresis treatment involves creating a gentle, patient, and supportive atmosphere for the child. Bladder training techniques may also be helpful in decreasing bed wetting episodes. In some cases, enuresis treatment may involve the use of prescription medications, especially if there is an underlying medical condition contributing to the bed wetting issues. Finding the best enuresis treatment options can be a bit tricky, as each child will respond differently to each attempted treatment method, often requiring a brief period of trial and error.
Patience and support are perhaps the most important of all the enuresis treatment options. Feelings of fear, guilt, and embarrassment should be minimized as much as possible, as stress will only add to the problem. Punishing the child for wetting the bed is both ineffective and damaging to the child's self-esteem. Positive reinforcement and finding creative ways to motivate the child to stay dry are much more effective and considerably healthier approaches.
The use of bladder training techniques may be an effective enuresis treatment for some children. This typically involves scheduling bathroom breaks throughout the day and may also mean practicing lying in the bed when needing to urinate and being reminded to go to the bathroom when the urge to urinate begins. The child may also benefit from being gently reminded that it is acceptable to get out of bed in the middle of the night to urinate when necessary.
Enuresis treatment may involve the use of prescription medications. Anticholinergic drugs are medications that are often used to treat patients who have been diagnosed with conditions such as overactive bladder or trouble urinating when feeling the urge. Unfortunately, this type of medication is not typically considered safe in young children. Imipramine therapy may have some degree of effectiveness, although the problem often returns once the medication has been discontinued. There are also potentially serious side effects, including drowsiness, irritability, and personality changes, so extreme caution should be taken if using Imipramine.
Alarm therapy is a popular enuresis treatment option. This alarm is designed to sound at the first sign of dampness. While this alarm does not usually wake the child, studies have suggested that urination often stops once the alarm sounds. This type of treatment sometimes takes several weeks to several months to become successful and has the highest success rates when used by older children.