A comprehensive questionnaire on bedwetting

Test your knowledge of bedwetting (and learn at the same time!) Being the parent of a child who suffers from bedwetting can be challenging. You may feel confused, frustrated, or both. Knowing as much as possible about the problem is key to helping your child through this time. This quick quiz will test your knowledge of bedwetting while you learn more! 1. Who is most likely to suffer from bedwetting? A) Boys B) Girls The correct answer is A. About two-thirds of the five to seven million bedwetting children in the United States are boys. 2. In most cases, bedwetting is caused by: A) Too much fluid before bedtime. B) Child's laziness. C) Physical reasons such as an immature bladder, low vasopressin production at night, or deep sleep. The correct answer is C. All of these physical reasons are common causes of bedwetting. Some children need more time to learn bladder control at night, but it's important for parents to know that the bladder training process depends on maturation, growth, and development," says Jennifer Lusk, a nurse practitioner in the Urology Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital. "The body needs time to establish elimination patterns like adults." 3. At what age do 99% of all cases of bedwetting resolve? A) 7 years B) 15 years C) 19 years The correct answer is B. 72% of children who wet the bed will outgrow the problem by age 11, and 99% of children will outgrow it by age 15. 4. Heredity can play a big role in bedwetting. A) True B ) False The correct answer is A. Family history often plays a large role in bedwetting. " If one parent wet the bed until an older age, the risk of the child having the same problem is 30 percent," says Lusk. "If both parents wet the bed, the risk increases to 70 percent." 5. Constipation may be associated with bedwetting. A) True B ) False The answer is A. A correlation exists between bladder and bowel dysfunction, as maturation and development of excretory control affect both systems. Constipation can affect bladder function,” says Lusk. “If serious constipation problems accompany bedwetting and the constipation is not treated or resolved, bedwetting, whether nighttime or daytime, is likely not to improve.” The location of the bowel and bladder in the abdominal cavity means that a larger-than-normal amount of feces can put pressure on the bladder. This pressure can prevent the bladder from filling completely, cause it to empty when it is not full, and even cause contractions, all of which can lead to bladder dysfunction. 6. What percentage of children aged 5 to 10 wet the bed? A) 3% B) 20% C) 10% The correct answer is B. 20% of children aged 5 to 10 wet the bed. 7. Urinary tract infections can play a role in bedwetting. A) True B ) False The correct answer is A. A urinary tract infection can cause bladder control problems, so it's important for parents to consult a healthcare professional about this. An infection can cause bladder contractions that can lead to instability, leakage, or loss of control. 8. What is the best way to manage your 5-year-old's bedwetting? A) Bedwetting alerts B) Wait and see C) Behavioral modification The correct answer is B. “Usually, until the child reaches 6 years of age, there is maturation of the bladder and bowels, and most children stop wetting the bed,” says Lusk. In my clinic, we don't see children with bedwetting until they are at least 6 years old. Behavioral modification is the second best method. Limiting fluid intake and waking your child to take them to the bathroom can sometimes work, but experts agree that the best method for managing bedwetting in a young child is to wait for physical maturation. In the meantime, absorbent underwear helps keep your child and their bedding dry. 9. Using absorbent underwear does not prolong bedwetting. A) True B ) False The correct answer is A. Absorbent underwear does not prolong bedwetting. Almost all children who suffer from bedwetting have a family member who has, and the problem likely disappears around the same age, says Dr. David Fay, a family medicine physician associated with the Waukesha Family Practice Residency Program and an expert consultant for iParenting.com. In my opinion, special underwear has nothing to do with when your child will stop wetting the bed.