Rather than beat or punish kids for bedwetting, a medical expert has called for compassion and some level of understanding on the part of concerned parents guardians and teachers.

The expert noted that parents or guardians tend to expose such children to more stress through scolding or flogging, adding that that bedwetting could be linked to stress, school-related activities and hereditary factor.

A Consultant Paediatrician at the Federal Medical Centre, Katsina, Dr. Abdurrazzaq Alege identifies stress as a common cause of bedwetting in children, adding that it majorly has to do with emotional imbalance.

“This could follow a traumatic experience as seen in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder such as sudden deprivation of loved ones; or witnessing a devastating event, for example, fire or road traffic accident.

“Others could be in form of abuse, which could be physical, emotional, sexual or even neglect. This is more common in children with secondary forms of bedwetting.

“Moreover, it is associated with many complications, most especially psychosocial problems. Many factors are responsible for bedwetting in children and even among adolescents.”

The doctor told PUNCH HealthWise parents should worry when a child who has previously attained bladder control for more than half a year suddenly starts bedwetting without any obvious sickness.

“One should look around the home environment, playgroup, as well as the school. Tell-tale signs could include withdrawal from activities, moody appearance, loss of appetite or poor school performance. Where the abuse is perpetrated by the parents, it may be difficult to make diagnosis on time. Therefore, the teacher also has a big role to play to unravel the problems.”

The Paediatrician also emphasised that for unknown reasons, bedwetting is hereditary, stating, that a study has proven that in families where both parents bed-wet in childhood, seven out of 10 children will develop the same problem.

“Where it is just one of the parents, four out of 10 children will be affected and only one out of 10 children will bedwet when none of the parents had a similar history.

“A history of bedwetting in the family, low socioeconomic level or being the first child in a family has been identified as risk factors, too,” he noted.