What is Incontinence, Enuresis and Encopresis?
Incontinence is the problem that our child who has gained the ability to hold urine, but starts to get wet again.
Enuresis, also known as enuresis nocturna, is what we call night-wetting or bed-wetting.
Encopresis is what we call soiling or bowel incontinence. As in any case, the underlying causes in soiling can be psychological or physiological.
Causes of Incontinence, Enuresis and Encopresis
There may be many reasons for incontinence, i.e. loss of ability to hold urine. A medical problem, such as a new-born sibling, fears, rejection of innovations, and urinary tract infections can cause this. Although urine retention has been learned, urinary incontinence can often be seen in cases of jealousy of new-born brother or sister, divorce, and parental death. In addition, your child may be holding his urine excessively for reasons such as not wanting to take a break from the game.
As with incontinence, there may be psychological or physiological reasons in enuresis. Unlike daytime wetting, bed wetting can also be genetic. Researches show that daytime wetting is 70-80% genetic. It should also be noted whether this situation occurs in childhood in one or two of the parents.
Encopresis, that is, inability to hold a poop, may occur due to psychological reasons such as stubbornness, punishment for doing something that the parent does not want (For example, taking him to school when he wants to play), a stressful environment at home (such as discussions or conflict among those living at home). Or, it can also occur due to muscle control disorder, painful rupture in the anus, above-normal stenosis, infection and constipation.
What Can Be Done for Incontinence, Enuresis and Encopresis
You should definitely consult a doctor for a detailed screening and review the physiological causes. If there is no physiological reason, you should make an appointment with the pediatric psychiatrist and work with the development psychologist or pedagogue according to your doctor’s guidance.
Except all of those;
Although your child does not need to go to the toilet, have him go to the toilet approximately every 1.30- 2 hours.
If he is afraid of falling to the toilet, use his toilet seat and underfoot platform to get rid of his fears.
Make your child stop eating and drinking a few hours before sleep.
Reinforce socially by mentioning with compliment when there is no wetting or soiling.
Do not react, do not mention this issue when cleaning when there is daytime wetting or soiling.
If the subject is mentioned, do not forget that the child will do it more often. Children, regardless of whether they are positive or negative, want to be talked about and care about, and whatever subject is the most talked about, they continue to increase that behaviour.
