A nephrologist, Dr Maryam Almustapha, has said bedwetting can be inherited and advised adults experiencing the condition to seek medical attention as it could indicate an underlying health disorder.
Almustapha made this known in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu on Tuesday.
Bedwetting, medically known as nocturnal enuresis, refers to the involuntary release of urine during sleep.
She explained that the condition occurs in children, teenagers and adults but becomes a concern when it persists beyond the age of seven.
According to her, there are two main types of bedwetting — primary and secondary enuresis.
“Primary bedwetting occurs in children below the age of five years and is considered normal at that age.
“Secondary bedwetting, however, occurs in adults and is usually caused by a medical disorder,” she said.
Almustapha said several factors could contribute to adult bedwetting, including genetics, hormonal imbalance, a small bladder, overactive bladder muscles, urinary tract infections, medications and stress.
She explained that bedwetting occurs when the bladder is unable to retain accumulated urine during sleep.
“If the bladder accumulates urine, you are supposed to wake up to urinate. But in some people, the bladder cannot hold it, and it just comes out,” she said.
The physician advised adults experiencing the condition to adopt lifestyle changes, including avoiding water and soft drinks late at night and urinating before bedtime.
She also recommended urinating more frequently during the day to ensure the bladder is emptied, as well as using a urine alarm that wakes an individual when the bladder becomes full.
According to Harvard Health, genetics can play a significant role in bedwetting. If both parents experienced the condition during childhood, about three out of four of their children may also develop it.
The statistic was based on a genetic study by paediatrician Dr Harry Bakwin, published in the Journal of Pediatrics in 1973.
Researchers have also identified two genes associated with bedwetting, located on chromosomes 12 and 13.
Almustapha said adults with persistent nocturnal enuresis who do not respond to non-invasive treatments could, in some cases, be considered for surgical intervention.
She said such procedures could involve stimulating the bladder, bowel and pelvic floor or removing muscle surrounding the bladder to improve bladder contractions.
