The Real Causes Of Enuresis

Enuresis, also known as bladder incontinence or bed wetting, is one health condition that evokes as much concern as possible from many parents. It's common with children but teen and adults could also be afflicted with enuresis as well. It's one of the least discussed health problems since it might cause a lot of embarrassment to the bed wetter.

It is the involuntary voiding of urine into inappropriate places like on the bed, on ones clothes, etc. To be considered enuresis, the involuntary voiding must happen at least two times a week or more within three months.

Enuresis is a multi factorial condition, which means that it is not caused by only one element. While genetics plays a major role in the predisposition of a person to acquire enuresis, several other factors could still be attributed to the occurrence of bladder incontinence.

The causes of enuresis are divided into two solid categories - physiologic causes and psychosocial causes.

Physiologic enuresis is describe to be caused by the following medical disorders:

1. Constipation

Infrequent bowel movement is another medical condition that is considered to cause enuresis. A full rectum causes the bladder to be insensitive to its own fullness.

2. Sleep Apnea or Arousal Disorder

Many bedwetting children are known to be hard to rouse from sleep. Some sleep pattern disturbance is involved as a controversial cause of enuresis. Researchers conduct more studies to better support this assumption regarding the cause of enuresis.

3. Sensitivity to Food

Another discovered cause of enuresis is food sensitivity. Certain foods like those that contain caffeine and citrus, when removed from a child's diet, improves enuresis.  

4. Bladder Problem

Some take account of the low functionality of the bladder as one cause of enuresis. The sense of urgency to urinate is less felt with enuretic children. A faulty bladder is often the culprit in this kind of condition.

Other medical conditions that are thought to be involved with enuresis are urinary tract infection, diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, lower urinary tract obstruction, and stress.

Psychosocial factors that are considered to induce enuresis include the following:

1. Toilet Training Related Problems

Either a kid is forced too early or too late to learn toilet training, this can cause bedwetting. An upset kid, often times shuffled with parents and relatives due to the demands of the work of his parents, can also be very prone to wetting the bed.

2. Parents who are too Controlling or are Insensitive

Confusion and fright from the nags of parents who are over controlling their kids, as well as parents who easily find fault on their children, can result to enuresis. This is because children or individuals who develops less positive self-image often cause their enuresis to aggravate.

Treatment of enuresis varies depending on more elements.  Whether it is primary enuresis (no recovery yet from bladder incontinence) or secondary enuresis (was able to control urination, then lost control again after a year or so), the age of the enuresis sufferer, physiological and psychosocial factors… These all have to be given major consideration before opting for any treatment.

Aside from these factors, more and more information is being discovered as to what are the real underlying causes of enuresis. Understanding those aforementioned causes will help one to decide an appropriate approach to treat this health dilemma and find good sources that can assist on this endeavor.