Behavioral
and pharmacological treatment of bedwetting
Initial management of children with bedwetting (enuresis
) should be behavioral treatment.
General guidelines should be as follows:
| 1. |
Gaining cooperation from the child by positively
charting dry nights and rewarding him/her is essential
for success.
|
| 2. |
Voiding (urinating) prior to sleep is helpful.
|
| 3. |
Waking the child up 2-3 hours after falling asleep may
be beneficial.
|
| 4. |
Punishment of the child by parents and caretakers should
be discouraged.
|
| 5. |
The use of conditioning devices (an alarm that rings
when the child urinates) is often helpful in training
the child to improve bladder capacity and avoid enuresis. |
Drug therapy for enuresis is considered second line treatment
and should be reserved for cases in which behavioral treatment
is unsuccessful or for special occasions (such as sleepovers
etc.) during periods when the child has incomplete bladder control.
|
