Bedwetting in teenage girls

Abstract

Bedwetting is a common childhood condition affecting over half a million children between the ages of 5 and 16 years in the UK. It is estimated that 0.8% of girls aged between 15 and 16 years are still bedwetting at least once every 3 months. During 2003–2004, 6.7% of all calls to the Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC) Helpline were from girls between the ages of 12 and 18 years.

Adolescence is a period of physical and emotional change; bedwetting can have a negative effect on self-image and can cause feelings of isolation and depression. By the time they reach adolescence, many girls will have tried different treatments and believe they will never stop wetting. It is important for health professionals to make a careful assessment of individual circumstances and to choose the most appropriate treatment plan. The ‘three systems’ model can help this process by linking the underlying cause with the most effective form of treatment. This could be: medication, such as desmopressin, which mirrors the naturally produced hormone vasopressin and reduces kidney output overnight; oxybutinin for young people with a voiding dysfunction or bladder overactivity, which works by relaxing the detrusor muscle of the bladder; or enuresis alarms, which help the young person to make the connection between ‘waking up’ and ‘holding on’. Helpful, practical information is vital to support the programme – and careful follow-up will establish rapport and trust and engage the young person effecting trends in successful conclusion.