Medical Terminology

This glossary contains plain language definitions of medical terms your doctor might use while discussing your child’s wetting issues.

Anatomic Bladder Capacity The volume of your child’s bladder as measured by tests such as an X-ray cystogram or a cystoscopy. For children with bedwetting it is common that the anatomic bladder capacity is more than the functional bladder capacity.

Anticholinergic A kind of medication that helps your child urinate more normally by reducing nerve impulses to an overactive bladder.

Bedwetting Involuntary urination while asleep.  Bedwetting may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as a urinary tract infection or may simply be primary nocturnal enuresis.

Bladder  The organ that stores urine until it is convenient to empty.  The bladder is under our voluntary control while we are awake.  While asleep the bladder may empty without our knowledge, which results in bedwetting.

Bladder dysfunction A problem of the bladder which can cause wetting or infection. Bladder dysfunctions are problems with either emptying or storage. With an emptying dysfunction, the bladder does not empty completely and the remaining urine can promote infection. With a storage dysfunction, urine may leak out of a bladder that is too small.

Constipation The infrequent or difficult passage of stool that is often unusually hard or dry.

Cystoscopy A diagnostic test in which a viewing device called a cystoscope (a miniature telescope) is inserted into the urethra (a tube that drains urine from the bladder) to examine the inside of the bladder. While this is not a surgical procedure, it is typically done in an operating room by a urologist while the patient is anesthetized because this is the safest way to perform the test. Testing under these conditions is commonly referred to as an “outpatient” procedure.

DDAVP See Desmopressin.

Desmopressin A tiny prescription tablet, taken before bed, that reduces the amount of urine made at night. Also known as DDAVP.

Diabetes insipidus A condition caused by a low level of the hormone vasopressin in which the kidneys overproduce urine, both day and night. Children with this condition may experience bedwetting. Such bedwetting differs from primary nocturnal enuresis  because it is caused by the underlying condition of diabetes insipidus. Children with bedwetting due to primary nocturnal enuresis may have a low hormone level only at night during sleep. The medicine Desmopressin, used to treat children with diabetes insipidus, may also help children who bedwet.

Ditropan See Oxybutynin

Encopresis The inability to control bowel movements, which leads to fecal soiling.

Enema A medication which is inserted into the rectum that stimulates the colon (large intestine) to empty, usually within an hour. Enemas are available over the counter or by prescription (compare with laxative and suppository.)

Enuresis Involuntary wetting, either by day or night. This type of wetting can typically be corrected without surgery.

Enuresis (moisture) alarm A device that makes a noise in response to wetness. The alarm sensor is attached to the child's underwear or pajamas in the area where wetness would first be expected. When the child wets, the alarm makes a loud noise to alert the child and parents.

Failure of sleep arousal When a child fails to awaken from sleep in response to a normal stimulus such as touch, sound or the need to urinate.

Food sensitivity In the context of bedwetting, this is a general term meaning a physical reaction to a food (that may or may not be an allergy). This reaction can affect good bladder control, and in doing so cause wetting.

Functional Bladder Capacity The largest amount of urine the bladder can empty during one urination. This is checked by using a voiding diary kept during a child’s waking hours. A small functional bladder capacity is a common reason for a child to have trouble outgrowing bedwetting.

Incontinence The inability to control our body’s need to eliminate, usually urine. In the context of bedwetting, incontinence can require surgery to achieve dryness. (Compare with Enuresis.)

Inducements Rewards for successful progress towards dryness, such as star charts.

Kidneys A pair of organs located underneath the ribs, towards the back. The kidneys function to purify the body of impurities, which are eliminated as urine.

Laxative An “over the counter” (OTC) or prescription medication which, when taken by mouth by a constipated patient, can stimulate the bowel to cause more normal elimination.

Oxybutynin A medication (tablet or liquid) that slows an overactive bladder. Also known as Ditropan.

Pediatric Enurology   The specialty of pediatrics that cares for children who wet without control.  These children can usually achieve dryness without the need for surgery (compare with Pediatric Urology).

Pediatric Urology  The sub-specialty of urology which deals with the surgical needs of children.  For children whose wetting is due to incontinence, surgery to correct the issue is common.

Polyuria Urinating larger volumes of urine than normal.

Posterior Urethral Valves (PUV) An abnormality of the urethra seen only in males that partially blocks normal urine flow past the prostate. Reverse flow (ureteral reflux) can occur and affect the bladder, ureters, and kidneys. It is thought to be an abnormality of fetal development.

Primary Nocturnal Enuresis Wetting while asleep, especially at night, when there are no other urinary tract problems.

Remission of Bedwetting  When an individual achieves 14 consecutive dry nights.

Secondary Nocturnal Enuresis  Bedwetting that returns after the child had been dry for at least 6 months.

Suppository An “over the counter” (OTC) or prescription medication which uses a flexible applicator to insert medication directly into a child’s rectum via the anus.

Tethered Spinal Cord Any condition in which the spinal cord, which normally floats freely, is fixed to the bottom of the spine. As children grow taller, the spinal cord becomes abnormally stretched. This can cause bladder nerve damage, which leads to wetting.

Ultrasound The use of sound waves bounced off the inside of the body to show pictures of internal organs. This method is different from radiology tests using x-rays or isotopes, and has not been found to cause any possible harm.

Ureter  The tube that drains urine from the kidney to the bladder.

Urethra The tube that drains urine from the bladder to the toilet.

UTI A Urinary Tract Infection is caused by bacteria. This infection can affect any part of the urinary tract, including the urethra, bladder, and kidneys. Common symptoms include a frequent urge to urinate, pain with urination and/or wetting.

VCUG (Voiding Cystourethrogram) An x-ray taken of the bladder and urethra during urination.

Vesicoureteral Reflux The abnormal, reverse flow of urine from the bladder backwards into the ureters and possibly the kidneys.