Bed Wetting

Studies show that “nocturnal enuresis” – bedwetting – is common in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

The symptoms of sleep apnea vary between children. Almost all of these children have significant snoring. As they sleep, you may notice that they seem to stop breathing for more than ten seconds. This is followed by a gasp or partial arousal and then the snoring begins again. During these episodes, the amount of oxygen taken into the body drops significantly.

This causes the heart to pump harder to pump enough oxygen to the body. In turn this is recognized by the heart as increased volume of fluid in the body and produces a hormone call ANP (Antinatriuretic Peptide) that causes kidneys to excrete more water and therefore more urine forms leading to increased urination.

Also, there are four stages of sleep and a hormone called ADH (antidiuretic hormone) is produced in the fourth stage of sleep. However children and adults with sleep apnoea never reach the fourth stage of sleep due to constant awakening episodes and therefore ADH is not released. The function of ADH is to prevent urination and if it is not produced then it results in urination and therefore in kids who are young resulting bed wetting

Your dentist or doctor can refer you to the right sleep physicians for the diagnosis and management of sleep apnoea