Nocturnal Enuresis (bedwetting)

Written by: Muhammad Nasir Sirat

Enuresis is one of the most common diseases in children that lasts up to eight years and more. In many cases, the disease annoys parents and children. AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some parents and a physician about this issue.

Naseema, a resident of Laghman province says, “One of my children wets his bed at night and it causes us trouble; we can't take him to a party at night because his clothes have a bad smell and he is embarrassed and isolated from others.”

Parwiz, a third-grade student in one of Kabul city schools says, “I have the problem of bedwetting at night and I get a headache and become nervous; I am always ashamed and quarrel with others.”

Doctor Farid Ahmad Rahmani, an internist at Indira Gandhi Children’s Hospital, Kabul city says, “enuresis is one of the most common diseases in children that lasts up to eight years and more. In many cases, the disease cause annoyance to parents and children. Enuresis causes social problems, especially shyness, isolation, coward, and low self-confidence, as well as mental health, and some neurological problems.”

What do people think about the causes of bedwetting?

Sitara, a resident of Baghlan province says, “I think those children who wet their beds at night, they might have some illness and when they want to go to the toilet, they afraid of their mother to awaken them at night and then they urinate in their beds.”

Zabihullah Jahanmal, a resident of Balkh province says, “Most children who wet their beds at night, are afraid at night to go to the toilet and some of them are so lazy that they do not go to the toilet before going to sleep.”

Doctor Rahmani says, “There are many causes of enuresis in children; small bladder, lack of hormones secreted at night, problems with the urinary system, high diabetes in children, fear and environmental stress cause this problem in children. Heredity is also involved in this disease, sore throat, or children who have extra throat meat have this problem, some brain disease also might cause this problem.”

How do people Avoid this disease?

Sifatullah, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, "My all children are healthy because when they become sick, we take them to the doctor for treatment. If any of them wets his/her bed at night, we do not get angry with him/her and tell him/her that if he/she wants to go to the toilet at night, he could awake his/her mother or father to accompany him/her.”

Doctor Rahmani talks about treatment and prevention method of this disease, “Parents should be patient because this problem might be solved in three months, if it continues, they should go to the doctor for essential treatment. Avoid sweets, citruses, and dairy products at night. Encourage children to have confidence, and at the same time, parents should try not to instill fear and anxiety in their children. The children should empty their bladder before going to sleep.

The parents, especially the mothers should take care of their children at night and take them to the toilet several times till they get used to going to the t toilet. If any of them wets his/her bed at night, the parents should not get angry at him…”