Bed wetting or pants wetting is not something that teens wanted to discuss openly or voluntarily. Teenagers are facing several stresses both from school and from the home. They are at that stage of development where confusion about identity and values happen most of the time. Thus, for teenagers who have the enuresis problem, wetting accidents or bed wetting is one shameful dark secret.
Yet, this problem cannot be kept a secret for long. Before such condition becomes common knowledge and stigmatize the teen, the wetting accidents should be stopped or controlled as soon as possible. Parents or guardians are in the position to help the bed wetting teen. And the first step is to determine what could have triggered the wetting accident. Addressing the cause of bed wetting or wetting accident is the most effective way of helping the teenager.
Taking the next step with teen bed wetting
The next step that the parents can do is to consult a health professional. With a health professional, the wetting accident of the teen will be evaluated. Usually, the two initial tests will be:
- Administration of a physical exam
- Interview about the medical history of bed wetting and wetting accidents
During the physical examination, the following should be expected:
- Inspect the abdominal area for the presence of abnormal lumps. The lumps imply that the bladder is full
- Check the rectum for any symptom of constipation
- Examine the nervous system, particularly the spinal column, for the existence of any disorder. This particular examination can also reveal any growth retardation which may cause the wetting accident
- Search for birth defects or infection in the genital area. If there is incessant dripping of urine, a health professional will most likely suggest a urinalysis.
- Instruct the teen to hold his urine for as long as possible and then release the urine on a sterile container. The health professional will determine the volume of urine released and the volume of the stream. If the stream is weak, the urinary tract may be partially blocked.
- Check for signs of sexual abuse.
The parents must be prepared to give sufficient information when they are asked about the teen’s history of bed wetting and wetting accidents. Some of the usual questions are the following
- When does the accidental wetting happen, during the day, during the night, or both?
- When did the accidental wetting started?
- How often does the teen have wetting accidents?
- Does urine drip frequently during the day?
- Is it painful to urinate?
- Has there been a previous infection of the bladder or kidney?
- Are there other members of the family who experience wetting accidents?
- Did the teen undergo an emotional stress in the recent past?
The health professional may still have more questions. Both the teen and the parent should answer as honestly as possible so that the evaluation will be accurate.