Ruling out problems such as diabetes and structural abnormalities, however, should be done before parents assume a wait and see attitude. Deep sleeping may also contribute to the trouble. But waking the child throughout the night to urinate does nothing but lead to exhaustion for everyone involved. One wake-up trip to the bathroom before mom and dad turn in should be sufficient. It's important to have compassion when dealing with a youngster who wets the bed, says Dr. Barry Duel , a pediatric urologist who has been named associate director of the Antoci Center .
Shame is the number-one emotion the child experiences and it's devastating.
Not only does it interfere with personality development, but it can result in antisocial behavior, isolation and depression. Treatment begins with a thorough physical examination by a pediatric urologist, including a medical history and urinalysis. Then, young patients with kidney disease and urologic conditions are screened for bedwetting. After reviewing the results, a pediatric urologist decides the best course of action. This may include biofeedback, dietary changes, behavioral modification devices such as alarms to waken the child, and medication to control physical conditions that may be contributing to bedwetting.