•  
  •  

Medical Terms for Bed-Wetting

Terms you may hear used for different types of bed-wetting include:

  • Enuresis, which is the lack of control over the voiding of urine beyond the age at which control is normally achieved, usually 5 or 6.
  • Nocturnal enuresis, which means bed-wetting, or the accidental voiding of urine during sleep.
  • Primary nocturnal enuresis, which is accidental bed-wetting by a child who has never had bladder control for 3 months in a row.
  • Secondary nocturnal enuresis, which is accidental bed-wetting by a child after he or she has been dry for a period of time. This may indicate emotional stress, a medical problem such as a kidney or bladder infection, or a birth defect that affects the urinary tract.
  • Monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis, which is bed-wetting in the absence of any other symptoms. This accounts for 80% to 85% of nocturnal enuresis cases.
  • Polysymptomatic nocturnal enuresis, which is bed-wetting associated with other bladder symptoms, such as back or belly pain, fever, cloudy or pink urine, increased urgency and frequency of urination, or crying or complaining when urinating.
  • Diurnal enuresis, which is accidental voiding of urine while awake.
By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics
Specialist Medical Reviewer Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics
Last Revised October 26, 2010

Last Revised: October 26, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Susan C. Kim, MD - Pediatrics & Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.

To learn more visit Healthwise.org

© 1995-2012 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.