A medical expert, Dr Maryam Ahmed Al-Mustapha, has asserted that bedwetting among children is not usually a health concern and can be tackled with some home remedies without necessarily taking any medical substances.
LEADERSHIP gathered that many parents are concerned about bedwetting by their children and resort to meting physical punishments on them or giving traditional substances with a view to stopping the kids from urinating while sleeping.
In an interview with Al-Mustapha, a medical doctor and popular public health educator, she said bedwetting otherwise known as “Nocturnal Eneuresis” is not a health problem, adding that children can outgrow it on their own.
“It is not usually considered a health concern unless it persists over the age of seven,” she said.
Specifically, it becomes an issue when the child is over the age of 12 and wets the bed two to three times per week for over three months consecutively.
“Bedwetting affects children of all ages, sometimes even adults. However, it is more common before the age of six and usually affects boys more than girls. This condition can also be genetic and run in families,” she said.
The expert recommended limiting fluid intake at night, especially those that contain caffeine or excess sugar; emptying the bladder before bedtime; setting of alarms to wake at regular intervals throughout the night and bladder training like increasing the length of time between bathroom visits which will help enlarge the bladder to allow it to hold more pee.
“There are some modern devices that can help like the bedwetting alarm which has a moisture sensor clipped to the underwear. This detects wetness and triggers an alarm as soon as the child starts wetting the bed,” she said.
Al-Mustapha, however, said if the problem persisted, healthcare providers should be involved.
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