A comprehensive questionnaire on bedwetting

Test your knowledge of bedwetting (and learn at the same time!)

Being the parent of a child with bedwetting can be challenging. You may feel confused and frustrated, or both?

Knowing as much as possible about the problem is key to helping your child through this period. This quick quiz will allow you to test your knowledge of bedwetting while learning more!

1. Who is most likely to suffer from nocturnal enuresis?

A) Boys B) Girls

The correct answer is A. Approximately 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) The 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 to control their bladder 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 at the Urology Clinic at Texas Children's Hospital. “The body needs time to develop elimination structures like adults.”

3. At what age do 99% of all cases of enuresis resolve?

A) 7 years old B) 15 years old C) 19 years old

The correct answer is B. 72% of bedwetting children will overcome the problem by the age of 11, and 99% of children by the age of 15.

4. Heredity can play a large role in enuresis.

A) True B ) False

The correct answer is A. Family history often plays a significant role in bedwetting. " If one parent wet the bed well into old age, the chances of the child having the same problem are 30%," says Lusk. "If both parents wet the bed, the chances increase to 70%."

5. Constipation may be associated with enuresis.

A) True B ) False

The answer is A. There is a correlation between bladder and bowel dysfunction because the maturation and development of excretion 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, the bedwetting, whether nocturnal or diurnal, is very unlikely to improve.” The location of the intestines and bladder in the abdominal cavity means that a larger-than-normal amount of stool can put pressure on the bladder. This pressure can prevent the bladder from filling completely, cause it to empty when not full, and even lead to contractions, all of which can result in 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 may play a role in enuresis.

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 may lead to instability, leakage, or loss of control.

8. What is the best way to manage your 5-year-old child's bedwetting?

A) Warnings about bedwetting B) Wait and see C) Behavioral modification

The correct answer is B. “Usually, by the time a child is 6 years old, their bladder and bowels have matured, and most children stop wetting the bed,” says Lusk. In my clinic, we don’t examine children with bedwetting until they are at least 6 years old. Behavioral modification is the second approach. Limiting fluid intake and waking your child to take them to the bathroom can sometimes work, but experts agree that the best way to manage bedwetting in a young child is to wait for physical maturation. In the meantime, absorbent underwear can help keep your child and their bedding dry.

9. The use of absorbent underwear does not prolong bedwetting.

A) True B ) False

The correct answer is A. Absorbent underwear does not prolong bedwetting. Almost every child who wets the bed has a family member who also had it, and the problem likely resolves itself around the same age, says Dr. David Fay, a family physician affiliated with the Waukesha Family Practice Residency Program and a consultant for iParenting.com. In my opinion, special underwear has nothing to do with when your child will stop wetting the bed.