Bedwetting
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What is Bedwetting?
Bedwetting is the loss of bladder control during the night. The medical term for bedwetting is nocturnal (nighttime) enuresis. Bedwetting can be an uncomfortable issue, but in many cases it’s perfectly normal.
Bedwetting is a standard developmental stage for some children. However, it can be a symptom of underlying illness or disease in adults. About 2 percent of adults experience bedwetting, which can be attributed to a variety of causes and may require treatment.
Common causes of children and adults having bedwetting include:
- small bladder size
- urinary tract infection (UTI)
- stress, fear, or insecurity
- neurological disorders,
- prostate gland enlargement
- sleep apnea, or abnormal pauses in breathing during sleep
Signs And Symptoms

Hormonal imbalances can also cause some people to experience bedwetting. Everyone’s body makes antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH tells your body to slow down the production of urine overnight. The lower volume of urine helps a normal bladder hold urine overnight.
People whose bodies don’t make sufficient levels of ADH may experience nocturnal enuresis because their bladders can’t hold higher volumes of urine.
Diabetes is another disorder that can cause bedwetting. If you have diabetes, your body doesn’t process glucose, or sugar, properly and may produce larger amounts of urine. The increase in urine production can cause children and adults who normally stay dry overnight to wet the bed.
Treatment for Bedwetting
Bedwetting that stems from a medical condition requires treatment beyond just lifestyle adjustments. Medications can treat a variety of conditions of which bedwetting is a symptom. For example:
- Antibiotics can eliminate UTIs.
- Anticholinergic drugs can calm an irritated bladder.
- Desmopressin acetate increases levels of ADH to slow nighttime urine production.
- Medications that block dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can reduce swelling of the prostate gland.
It’s also important to control chronic conditions, such as diabetes and sleep apnea. Bedwetting associated with underlying medical issues will likely resolve with proper management.
