Young children often have accidents and wet their clothes
during the day or wet the bed at night. Daytime wetting (enuresis) in this age
group is made worse because young children don't always pay attention to their
bodies' signals. A child who wants to play or do something enjoyable will
sometimes ignore the need to urinate until it is too late.
Enuresis is a medical condition that affects children who are older than
the age at which most children have bladder control. Daytime enuresis occurs
when a child has daytime accidents after having been toilet trained for more
than 6 months.
Sudden, new daytime wetting after a child has been
toilet trained may be a symptom of a
urinary tract infection (UTI). It is important to call
your child's doctor if your child has this type of daytime wetting. An
untreated UTI can cause scarring of the urinary tract. Prompt treatment can
prevent serious complications.
An increase in urination or new
daytime or nighttime wetting may also be a sign of
diabetes. Other symptoms of diabetes include extreme
thirst, increased hunger, and weight loss.