Urinary incontinence affects children

• April 29, 2024

The enuresis , a condition that involves the emission of urine in bed or clothing, involuntary or intentional, diurnal or nocturnal, affects more children than girls, and may occur until adolescence, said Silvia Ortiz León , member of Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health of the Faculty of Medicine (FM) of the UNAM .

This condition is diagnosed when the liquid emission occurs at least twice a week for a period of three months, persistently, around five years of age; "Although control has been present since two years, it may be the case that even older people urinate occasionally," said Ortiz León.

Among the most common causes of this condition are those directly related to development. The muscles and the nerves of children are developing, so it is normal that they can have losses of urine ; however, over time it will improve its coordination. In the same way, medicines, a overactive bladder , a urinary infection or one functional incontinence caused by an inability to go to the bathroom, may also be the origin.

Another cause is that the dream of children is deeper than that of adults, so they do not perceive the signal that they should empty bladder . Also, it may be that the Antidiuretic hormone , which works during the night to control the urge to urinate, is altered by the same development of children.

The hereditary factor It is also of great importance, because a child can suffer from bedwetting if one of their parents or both has suffered. If so, it is best to tell them that they went through the same thing, that it is solved soon, that it is not bad, and that therefore they should not be ashamed.

Treatment

This condition can be controlled, but it is necessary to first perform a clinical history, provide psychoeducation about the disorder, indicate modification of habits and behavior, and suggest a drug.

It also helps to establish rules such as reducing fluids before going to bed, or lifting the child every so often during the night, to force him to learn to empty his bladder until the next morning arrives. It is a conditioning of the conduct and the establishment of habits , where the infant learns to have self-control and self-regulation, added the specialist.

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