2torial #0824:
Learn2 Cure Bedwetting (continued)

Rule out underlying medical problems

If you plan to begin a concentrated program to end bedwetting, first take your child to a doctor. He or she should be able to rule out any underlying medical causes, such as urological infections that can be treated easily. Your child should then be screened for more serious causes, including:

• Kidneys that don't sleep. In certain cases, bodies don't produce enough antidiuretic hormone (ADH) to tell the kidneys to produce less urine at night. When a kidney doesn't slow down at bedtime, it produces the same amount of urine as it would during the day, overfilling the bladder.

• Food allergies. Some food allergies can seemingly "drug" people to sleep very deeply. In these cases, the bladder may not be able to wake up a deep sleeper, and it overflows.

Be sure to choose a doctor who's knowledgeable about the treatment of bedwetting. If you're in the United States and your doctor can't help or can't make a referral, contact the National Kidney Foundation for a listing of physicians caring for patients with bedwetting problems.

In general, a doctor experienced with helping bedwetters can recommend the best approach, based on information you provide about your child's daytime habits, how much urine is passed at night, and how often. Your doctor can also effectively determine whether or not allergies are part of the problem, or if medication should be prescribed.