What is Enuresis? : Causes and Symptoms

Enuresis is a pattern of involuntary discharge of urine by a child age 5 and over. It can be psychologically stressful and a source of embarrassment for a child, but not physically harmful. Enuresis puts a child at risk of being a target for name-calling and teasing from peers, which can damage a child's self-esteem and place him or her at risk of rejection.


Source
Symptoms
The history is essential in making the proper diagnosis and should address the following:

• Hydration history
• Daytime voiding pattern
• Toilet training history
• Number and timing of episodes of bedwetting
• Behavior, personality, and emotional status

Causes
Primary bed wetting is usually due to a delay in the maturation of the part of the nervous system that controls bladder function. Another cause for children who urinate during the night may be a deficiency of the antidiuretic hormone ADH. The presence of this hormone concentrates urine and prevents the bladder from filling up during sleep. Young children do not have a mature signaling mechanism between the bladder and the brain to become aware of a full bladder. Consequently, they fail to wake up and may wet their bed.