Hi Sum – as no doubt your GP has already explained, your son is suffering from secondary nocturnal enuresis (SNE) a term used to describe the condition where a child has maintained proper bladder control for a consecutive period of six months or more then begins to wet the bed again. Secondary bedwetting appears to have two main causes: physical or psychological. It sounds like you doctor has already run tests to rule out any underlying physical cause. The majority of secondary bedwetting results from emotional problems. Common psychological stressors for adolescents include things like family disharmony, the loss of someone close, difficulties at school which may be related to peer relational problems such as bullying or the breakdown of an important friendship or exam-related anxiety. The management of secondary bedwetting involves addressing the underlying cause. When there are significant emotional stressors associated with secondary bedwetting, then attention to these issues should take priority. When stress is an underlying factor then adolescents sometimes benefit from psychological intervention through the support of a clinical child psychologist. If you think stress may be a factor than you need to ask your GP for a referral to a clinical psychologist who can spend time with your son to help identify the underlying cause.

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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