Known scientifically as nocturnal enuresis, bedwetting should not be seen as a possible medical issue unless a child continues to wet the bed at least twice weekly past the age of five.

Bedwetting in a Child
Most children who wet the bed will outgrow it, and bed wetting treatment is necessary only if bedwetting is upsetting to the child. In general, bedwetting does not stem from a medical, psychological or emotional problem, but it can become a problem if parents, children, or physicians let themselves to be bothered by it.

Cause of Bedwetting
Bed wetting may occur because a child sleeps very deeply.

Incidence of Bed Wetting
Ten to 15 percent of 5-year-olds and 6-8 percent of 8-year-olds wet the bed.

Bed Wetting Treatment
The most effective treatment for bedwetting is an alarm device that goes off when the child wets the bed. Although it cures bedwetting less than half the time, alarms can be helpful to stop bed wetting for older, motivated children with motivated families when simpler approaches don't work. Parents hoping to help their children stay dry at night can take the following steps:

Make getting up at night to go to the bathroom a clear goal, and make the toilet easily accessible
Stay away from excess fluids and caffeine containing foods before bed
Have the child urinate before bedtime
Stop using diapers at night, although training pants may be appropriate
Have the child help clean up the wet bed in the morning "in a nonpunitive manner"

Behavioral approaches such as rewards or waking the child to go to the bathroom can be helpful for some children, although they carry the risk of causing poor self-esteem in the child and frustrating the parents. The goal of treatment is largely to reduce problems with frustration, conflict and poor self-esteem, and, thus, behavioral therapies for enuresis may do more harm than good.

Drug treatment for bed wetting
The drug desmopressin is prescribed as a short-term treatment for some children, and may be useful for camp or sleepovers. However, desmopressin has serious side effects. Desmopressin can increase the risk of seizures and death. In December of 2007, the Food and Drug Administration said it has received 61 reports of seizures, two of which were fatal, among patients taking desmopressin, a drug that lowers the amount of water eliminated in urine. The agency said desmopressin can sometimes lower the amount of sodium in patients' blood to dangerous levels, causing the seizures. Desmopressin is sold by several companies, including privately held Ferring Pharmaceuticals, under names such as DDAVP, DDAVP nasal spray and DDAVP rhinal tube.

Bed wetting questions
Q. Please advice me on what herbal supplement I can use to stop my 17 years old son currently still bed wetting.
   A. We are not aware of any supplement that helps with bed wetting.

 
Adult bed wetting