Bed wetting is a normal thing, but only when you are 4 years old and below. Perhaps a few incidences may occur two or thre years later but at teenage it is something to worry about.
However, it should not be a cause of alarm; according to a medical practitioner at, Gatundu Level 4 Hospital, its actually common in teenagers countrywide.
Dr. Judy Wairimu, a pediatrician, says that an adult’s full bladder sends a message to the brain that wakes an individual up in the middle of the night but it does not automatically happen to children as most of them slowly develop this ability over time.
She explained that some children stopped wetting the bed as pre-scholars but others do not develop this ability until much later in life which is not abnormal.
The doctor cited some factors which contributed to bedwetting, they include:
- bladder problems – some teens have relatively small bladders to hold much urine.
- muscle spasms that can lead to nocturnal enuresis, an involuntary urination that happens at night while sleeping even after the age when a person should be able to control his or her bladder.
- Sleep disorders where some teens were sound sleepers also contribute to bedwetting.
- Hereditary factors
- Drinking too much fluids before bedtime
“They just cannot wake up to get up and go to the washrooms before they have urination. Other teens may have a sleep disorder that makes it hard for them to wake up to answer to the call of nature.
“Drinking too much water or other beverages late in the evening also increases the chances that your child will have a full bladder overnight and if your child does not wake up when his bladder is full he/she will automatically wet the bed.”
“Parents should encourage their teens to stay well hydrated during the day but limit the amount in the evenings,” Dr. Wairimu advised.
For those already with the problem, she suggested that they should be encouraged to use the washroom before they retire for the day.
“Healthy sleep habits should be encouraged and teens should be reminded to reduce the chances of bedwetting by sleeping with an empty bladder,” she said.