Peds
Bed-Wetting Alarm
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Bed-Wetting Alarm
, Bed Alarm Therapy
Indications
Nocturnal Enuresis
(Bed wetting) especially in child under age 7 years
Devices
Bell, light, vibrator, or buzzer and Pad (Alarm)
Alarms when device becomes wet
Efficacy
Higher success rate (75%) than medications
Least relapse rate after therapy is stopped (41%)
Advantages
Best efficacy of any method in
Nocturnal Enuresis
(better than
Desmopressin
and
Imipramine
)
Low initial cost ($100) compared with medications
Alarm may be covered by insurance
Vibratory alarms are available for hearing impaired
Disadvantages
Requires use often for up to 15 weeks
Parents and children must be motivated for success
Parents often need to sleep in same room with child initially to assist awakening to the alarm
High drop-out rate (10-30%)
Bed wetting should be at least 1-2 nights weekly to be warranted
Preparations
Devices
Bed alarms that wake the child (instead of the parent) are most effective
Children prefer body-worn bed alarms over bed pads
Do not use electric shock alarms
References
Baird (2014) Am Fam Physician 90(8): 560-8 [PubMed]
French (2002) Am Fam Physician 65(9):1798-99 [PubMed]
Jensen (1999) Scand J Urol Nephrol Suppl 202:73-5 [PubMed]
Thiedke (2003) Am Fam Physician 67:1499-506 [PubMed]
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