Bed

Bed-wetting Essay Bed-wetting, or enuresis, isinvoluntary urination that usually occurs duringsleep. It is common in children up to age 5, andabout 15 percent of older children aged 5 to 13also have bed-wetting episodes. The precisecause is unknown, but it may be due to delayeddevelopment of bladder capacity, constipation, ordiseases, such as urinary tract infection, kidneydisease, or diabetes mellitus. Emotionally stressfulevents, such as hospitalization or loss of a parent,may contribute to enuresis. In most cases childrenoutgrow the problem, but persistent cases requirea physical examination in case there is anunderlying medical problem. Enuresis not causedby a physical problem can be halted with effectivebehavior-modification therapies. Anothertechnique uses a battery-operated urinary alarmthat is set off by wetting; eventually the child learnsto waken before the alarm. In rare cases the drugimipramine is prescribed. Bibliography: Welford,Heather, Toilet Training and Bed Wetting (1988).