New Wetting or Increased Urination in Children With Urinary Symptoms

Young children often have accidents and wet their clothes during the day or wet the bed at night. Daytime wetting (enuresis) in this age group is made worse because young children don't always pay attention to their bodies' signals. A child who wants to play or do something enjoyable will sometimes ignore the need to urinate until it is too late.

Enuresis is a medical condition that affects children who are older than the age at which most children have bladder control. When a child has daytime accidents after having been toilet trained for more than 6 months, this is called daytime enuresis.

Sudden, new daytime wetting after a child has been toilet trained may be a symptom of a Reference urinary tract infection Opens New Window (UTI). It is important to call your child's doctor if your child has this type of daytime wetting. An untreated UTI can cause scarring of the urinary tract. Prompt treatment can prevent serious complications.

An increase in urination or new daytime or nighttime wetting may also be a sign of Reference diabetes Opens New Window. Other symptoms of diabetes include extreme thirst, increased hunger, and weight loss.

© 1995-2011, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Reference Terms of Use. Reference How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.