How to Know When to Get Medical Attention for Bedwetting
Bedwetting doesn̵7;t usually indicate that your child has a serious medical condition. It̵7;s often related to your child̵7;s inability to recognize a full bladder while in deep sleep and will resolve itself over time. However, it can be a frustrating problem for both you and your child. Knowing when to contact your doctor helps alleviate some of the stress associated with bedwetting, because your doctor can determine if there is indeed an underlying medical issue or suggest ways to help your child while you wait for him to outgrow the problem.
Instructions
Look for patterns. If your child has wet the bed consistently, and has never had 6 months or more of dry nights, it̵7;s unlikely that your child has an underlying medical problem that requires treatment. Consult your doctor if your child has been dry at night for at least 6 months, and begins wetting the bed again. There may be many factors that cause bedwetting to return, but only your doctor can determine whether it̵7;s a medical concern that requires treatment. Consider your child̵7;s age. Approximately 20 percent of 5-year-olds, 10 percent of 7-year-olds and 5 percent of 10-year-olds still wet the bed, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Contact your doctor if your child is still wetting the bed by 8 to 10 years of age, and it is affecting confidence or interfering with social activities such as sleepovers. Your doctor may be able to help manage the problem through the use of aids such as alarms that go off when the child begins to pee at night, which help teach him to wake when his bladder is full. Look for other symptoms, particularly if bedwetting suddenly appears after months of dry nights. For example, increased urination during the day and pain or straining when your child urinates may indicate a bladder infection. Call your doctor if your child has pinkish or cloudy urine, or if you find bloodstains on his underwear, because these may indicate an underlying medical issue. Look for changes in personality or mood, daytime wetting and problems with movement. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that these symptoms may indicate an underlying neurological problem that should be investigated by a medical professional.
