When to consider the possibility of child maltreatment as the cause of nocturnal enuresis

Consider child maltreatment as the cause of nocturnal enuresis in the following situations:

• in children who are reported to be deliberately bedwetting
  
  
• children who are reported to being punished for bedwetting by their parents or carers despite professional advice that the symptom is involuntary
  
  
• in children with persistent secondary daytime wetting or secondary bedwetting despite adequate assessment and management, unless it is caused by a medical condition such as urinary tract infection or clearly identified stressful situation that is not part of maltreatment, for example, bereavement, parental separation (1)

Reference:

• 1. National Clinical Guideline Centre 2010. Nocturnal enuresis: The management of bedwetting in children and young people