Health experts are urging parents to seek medical attention for children who continue to wet the bed after the age of five, warning that the condition may be linked to underlying medical or psychological issues rather than laziness or stubbornness.
For years, Monica, not her real name, believed bedwetting was simply a normal part of childhood. However, her perspective changed when her firstborn, who had stopped wetting the bed at the age of three, unexpectedly began doing so again while in Grade Six.
“I was shocked because I believed he had outgrown the problem,” she recalled.
Monica says the same condition later affected her other children, prompting her to wonder whether there was an underlying health problem.
She says the issue became more serious after her children joined boarding school, where they were ridiculed and bullied by fellow students because of the condition.
Her greatest concern came when she received a phone call from school informing her that her 17-year-old son was still wetting the bed.
“I feared the stigma would affect his mental health, confidence, and academic performance,” she said.
Although she found no history of persistent bedwetting among adult family members, Monica remains worried that her youngest child could develop the same condition later in life.
Dr. Njeri Karianjahi, a pediatric adolescent specialist at Aga Khan Hospital, says bedwetting beyond the age of five should never be dismissed, especially if a child had previously stopped and then starts again.
She explains that parents should seek medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause.
Doctors begin by assessing how frequently the child wets the bed, whether there is pain during urination, frequent urges to urinate, and the child’s sleeping patterns.
Physical examinations are then conducted to determine whether there are signs of urinary tract or neurological disorders.
Urine tests are used to detect infections, while kidney function tests may be recommended if doctors suspect kidney-related problems.
According to Dr. Karianjahi, these investigations help distinguish between children who never fully developed bladder control and those who relapse after having achieved dryness.
Another parent, Jane, also not her real name, says her 16-year-old daughter continues to struggle with bedwetting.
She believes her daughter’s deep sleep prevents her from waking up to use the bathroom during the night.
Jane says that between the ages of six and eleven, her daughter wet the bed almost every night, although the episodes have now become less frequent.
She and her husband have adopted the routine of waking her up three times each night to use the toilet.
Although they previously sought medical advice, no medication was prescribed, and they continue relying on nighttime bathroom reminders to help manage the condition.
According to Dr. Karianjahi, nocturnal enuresis, commonly known as bedwetting, can result from several different causes and therefore requires proper medical assessment before treatment can begin.
She explains that young children naturally lack full bladder control and may urinate up to 15 or 20 times a day.
As children grow, communication between the brain, spinal cord, and bladder improves, allowing them to develop better control over urination.
However, in some children, this development occurs more slowly or may be affected by underlying medical conditions, causing bedwetting to continue into adolescence.
A study published in 2025 by Adisu found that approximately 7.2 percent of children and adolescents worldwide continue to experience bedwetting.
Experts also say environmental and psychological factors can contribute to the condition.
Jack Matika, a child, youth, and community development specialist at Koinonia Community, says the environment in which a child grows up can influence bladder habits.
He explains that children raised in unsafe environments may become accustomed to urinating where they sleep because they fear going outside at night.
For example, children who have lived on the streets may continue the habit even after returning to family settings or children’s homes unless they receive professional support.
Matika also says emotional trauma, anxiety, and psychological stress can contribute to persistent bedwetting.
Children who have experienced abuse or traumatic events may continue struggling with the condition because stress can interfere with the communication between the brain, spinal cord, and bladder.
He emphasizes that parents should never shame, punish, or ridicule children who wet the bed, as doing so may worsen emotional distress.
Instead, families are encouraged to seek professional medical evaluation and psychological support where necessary.
Health experts recommend taking children to hospital if they continue wetting the bed after the age of five or if they resume bedwetting after having stopped.
They also advise limiting fluid intake a few hours before bedtime, ensuring children use the toilet before sleeping, and, where appropriate, waking them once during the night to urinate.
However, specialists caution that these measures should not replace proper medical assessment, particularly if the problem persists for a long period or returns after the child had previously gained full bladder control.
Doctors stress that bedwetting beyond the age of five is not a sign of laziness or disobedience, but a condition that may indicate an underlying medical or psychological issue requiring early diagnosis and treatment.
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