ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Involuntary urination

What is involuntary urination?

3 November 2023

This disorder called enuresis, consists of spontaneous urination that your child suffers while sleeping after the age of seven.

Wetting the bed before the age of seven does not represent major problems other than wet sheets and clothes, but beyond that age, we are talking about an anomaly that can be due to various causes, such as:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Diabetes.
  • Constipation.
  • Morphological anomalies.
  • Neurological conditions.
  • Small bladder.
  • Problems realizing that the bladder is full.
  • Hormonal alterations.
  • Urinary tract infections.

Some potential risks for developing enuresis or involuntary urination include:

  • Family members who have suffered from this disorder.
  • Attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity.
  • Anxiety.
  • Stressful episodes.

Signs and symptoms Involuntary urination

  • Wetting the bed after turning seven years old.
  • Relapse after controlling nighttime urination.

Talk to your pediatrician immediately if your child has the following symptoms, because enuresis may be due to a serious condition:

  • Burning and pain when urinating.
  • Excessive thirst.
  • Pink or reddish urine.
  • Chronic constipation.
  • Snoring.

Diagnosis and treatment Involuntary urination

The pediatrician will analyze your child’s symptoms and clinical history, then perform a physical examination and request various tests to rule out other conditions, such as:

  • Blood test.
  • Urine test.
  • X-rays.
  • MRI.
  • Computed tomography.

In many cases, this disorder disappears without the need for treatment following the next indications:

  • Avoid drinking liquids before going to bed.
  • Avoid caffeinated beverages.
  • Get the child used to urinating before going to bed.
  • Encourage your child to urinate during the day at the first sign of needing to urinate.

In certain cases, the pediatrician may prescribe some temporary medications to help normalize the situation.

If the cause of bedwetting is an underlying disease, it should be treated immediately.

At the Pediatric Center, we provide specialized care to children from birth until they become adults, through our pediatric care, oncology, neurology, and cardiology services at the level of the best medical centers in the world.

Related centers and departments Involuntary urination

Pediatrics Center
Internal medicine
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory
Cancer Center

Fuentes:

  • cun.es
  • shrinerschildrens.org
  • kidshealth.org
  • cincinnatichildrens.org
  • elsevier.es
  • topdoctors.es
  • msdmanuals.com
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • Salazar-Ozuna WA, Aragón-Castro MA, Vázquez-Niño CL, et al. Tratamiento médico de la enuresis en niños: aspectos actuales. Rev Mex Urol. 2017;77(3):230-237.
  • Meave-Cueva LG, Díaz- García L, Garza-Elizondo R. Diagnóstico y tratamiento de la enuresis no orgánica en pacientes pediátricos. Guía de práctica clínica. Acta Pediatr Mex. 2014;35(1):15-21.

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