By Michael Boivi and Noah Owusu
A Pediatrician, with the Pediatric Society of Ghana, Dr. Bright Asiamah, says the inability of children to voluntarily control their bladder leading to bed-wetting, at night is a result of delay in maturation of their impulse to the bladder.
He described the phenomenon as quite common but was quick to add that the issue has not gained the necessary attention because of the shame associated with it.
Dr. Asiamah was speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show which discussed bedwetting in children.
He said about 15% of children around six years old bed wet, while about 6-8% around eight years old, also bed wet. Dr. Asiamah gave some causes of bedwetting as genetic psychological, as well as the inability of the bladder of children to accommodate more urine for long. The condition has been a headache to some parents due to the discomfort that comes along with it.
”It tends to run in the family. This is genetic components so about 50 % of time you realise that when the child is growing, the brain control of the bladder should start developing when the bladder is full it shows signals to the brain that the bladder is full and the child should wake up at night and urinate, but in some children that maturity is delayed they continue to pee even after five to six years and in some children, their bladder capacity is small so the little amount of urine they produce their bladder gets full and it will outflow, then they pass urine. Also, in some children, psychological issues can be a factor there, so you need to find out if there is a problem in the family, maybe stress.”
Dr. Asiamah noted regardless of the causes of bedwetting, it can be controlled. He provided some guidelines for parents and guardians to follow.
”So there are certain measures that can be taken to help these children. One of the steps is to reduce the amount of fruits or liquid before bedtime so like two hours before bedtime then you limit it. No more drinking and then avoid drinks that have caffeine in them and also before bedtime let the child pee before the child goes to sleep and motivate the child, don’t embarrass or the child with names, because it is not helpful. It should be motivational to the child,” according to a Pediatrician with the Pediatric Society of Ghana, Dr. Bright Asiamah.
