My 12-year-old daughter has not wet the bed since she was 5 years old. This past fall, she suddenly started. Could the onset of puberty be a cause? Is this normal for 11- to 12-year-olds?
Answer
Usually just the opposite. Many children who have had enuresis improve at puberty. It is unusual to start again at that age unless there is something stressful that is occurring in the child's life. You also need to exclude diabetes, as this can be a cause of new onset bedwetting. Other signs of diabetes include increased volume of urine or new daytime frequency of urination.
Michael Ritchey
Dir. of the Division of Urology/ Professor U. of Texas Medical School
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