Question
A four-year-old boy frequently wets the bed at night, and sometimes even in the daytime. Parents have noticed that when asked about when he wet the diaper, the child says, “I don’t know.” This situation has been going on for a while, and the parents are feeling troubled.
Answer
Bedwetting in children under 18 years old refers to involuntary urination during sleep. This condition may have a familial tendency, but Western medicine has not yet found clear genetic evidence. Bedwetting may be related to the frequency of urination during the day, urgency, amount of each urination, and night-time bedwetting. It is worth noting that there is no direct association between hidden spinal bifida and enuresis, although a few patients with hidden spinal bifida may experience bedwetting symptoms. In most cases, however, no treatment is needed, and it does not affect health. For this situation, it is recommended that parents encourage their children to wake up frequently at night and undergo bladder training, such as drinking a large amount of water to increase bladder capacity.