Millions of Children Uneasy About Attending Overnight Camp

According to the National Kidney Foundation approximately 5 million children wet the bed every night. Bedwetting precludes these children from participating in a number of overnight activities, including summer camp. There are treatment alternatives avilable.

(PRWEB) April 29, 2005 -- For about 5 million boys and girls the thought of attending an overnight camp seems a distant possibility because according to the National Kidney Foundation this is the estimated number of children who wet their beds every night. For these children overnight summer camps are out of the question, embarrassment and fear of being "found out," keep them home.

Bedwetting is not a result of bad parenting, lazy children or psychological problems. Most childrens bedwetting is simply a result of genetics, according to Dr. Max Maizels, Professor of Urology at Northwestern University Medical School. In fact he says , most children who bed wet have no more control over whether they wet or don't wet than they do over choosing the color of their eyes." Dr. Maizels is the co-author of the book, Getting to Dry: How to Help Your Child Overcome Bedwetting" (Harvard Common Press). He says, Children who are labeled bed wetters are often disqualified from a number of overnight activities including sleepovers, trips to Grandma and summer camp which are almost considered rights of passage."

There are a number of steps parents of bedwetting children can take between now and the time summer camp begins. First of all it is always a good idea to have your child evaluated by a physician. Some children's wetting may be caused or complicated by certain foods like caffeine and milk products. Chronic constipation can also contribute to a child's inability to remain dry.

The vast majority of nighttime wetting is a result of what is termed pediatric nocturnal enuresis. Through the proper use of an enuresis alarm nearly all of these children can easily learn to overcome their bedwetting. Simply stated, it is believed that the underlying reason why a child with enuresis wets at night is that the brain and bladder do not communicate well when he or she is sleeping. A contributing factor is the fact that nearly all children who wet are deep sleepers.

An enuresis alarm is a small battery operated device that the child wears while asleep and there are several models available. The price is generally about one hundred dollars and they all work essentially the same way. A moisture sensor attached to a small alarm or buzzer is attached to the child's undergarment. When the sensor detects the first drop of moisture the alarm sounds. Over a period of typically 3 to 8 weeks the child begins to get "in tune" with the signals from their bladder and the alarm is no longer needed. For over fifteen years, Dr. Maizels has directed the TRY for DRY program at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which is dedicated to helping children with pediatric enuresis. "We consider 14 consecutive dry days and nights to be successful remission of wetting," says Maizels. "Children using an enuresis alarm should wear it nightly until this goal is achieved."

In addition to the enuresis alarm, the TRY for DRY program recognizes the usefulness of pharmaceutical alternatives, the most popular of which is desmopressin. This prescription medication is effective in helping many children get immediate relief from nighttime wetting. The drawback is that in the majority of cases it requires that the child continue the medication indefinitely, it is expensive and it is not effective for everyone. If your child is among those who respond favorably to this medication it can be a useful short term alternative for potential campers. The results are immediate and it may enable your child to remain dry during the two or four weeks of camp. When the camper returns home, Dr. Maizels recommends you consider replacing the medication with the enuresis alarm therapy. In general the medical community recognizes the enuresis alarm to be the most effective treatment to overcome pediatric enuresis permanently and in the long run is much more economical then purchasing diapers or the continued use of medication.

If you have a potential camper who wants to be dry in time to join his or her friends this summer, now is the time to discuss the possible treatment alternatives with your child's healthcare provider. For information about enuresis alarms, desmopressin and the potential benefits of other treatment options read "Getting to Dry: How to Overcome Bedwetting," (Harvard Common Press), available at your local bookstore or library. The book is available online at tryfordry.com where you can also learn more about bedwetting.

Contact:
Reno Lovison
TRY for DRY, Ltd
5250 N. Broadway #106
Chicago, IL 60640
773-989-1960
reno@tryfordry.com
http://www.tryfordry.com

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