What can an examination for possible causes of bedwetting show?
Examinations and tests rarely show a cause for bedwetting. The doctor will check your child and ask questions about the bedwetting. A careful medical history and examination usually are all that is needed to reassure you and your child that there is nothing physically wrong. Sometimes a urinary tract infection can cause accidental wetting, especially if a child who has been dry starts to wet again (secondary enuresis). Urine tests commonly are done to help find a possible infection. If there is a medical reason for a child’s wetting, there usually are signs other than bedwetting. These signs, such as a urine stream that doesn’t flow normally, can often be found during an examination. If the doctor notices something unusual about the child’s urine stream (spraying, stops and starts), he or she may suggest some tests. A problem with the way the urinary tract is formed is rarely the cause of accidental wetting.
