Management of bedwetting

Background: Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting) is a common inherited medical condition affecting both children and adults. It is not due to laziness. It can be distressing, embarrassing, humiliating and has a negative impact on self esteem and mood especially in children and young people over the age of 10 years. Objective: To assist busy general practitioners develop a better understanding of bedwetting and the importance of its diagnosis and treatment. Discussion: Spontaneous remission rates over the age of 10 years are low at 5% per year and approaches often tried at home such as waking to void, reward charts or fluid restriction are not effective. However, treatment with alarm systems or desmopressin for those who fail to respond to alarms is successful in over 90% of cases. (author abstract)