How to Track Enuresis & Encopresis
Enuresis (bed-wetting) is an inability to control urination in children. Encopresis is involuntary fecal soiling by an individual who has already been toilet trained. The age at which children develop bladder control and control over their bowels can vary, so it is not always possible to correctly diagnose enuresis or encopresis. If you think your child may have enuresis or encopresis and are considering seeking medial advice from your family doctor, it's important to start keeping a record of their toilet habits by taking some regular measurements.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Take a blank piece of paper and split it into three vertical columns. At the very top, record the date you are going to perform the test. At the top of the first column write, "Time of day." At the top of column two write, "Amount drunk." At the top of column three write, "Length of time for urination."
-
2
Fill the diary in by recording the times the child drinks, how much the child drinks in ounces (by measuring the amount in a kitchen measuring cup) and, if possible, how much urine is passed during each toilet visit or during the night.
-
-
3
Manage the amount of fluid the child consumes during the day. Ensure the child drinks small quantities frequently and very little is consumed in the run up to bedtime. Record the progress the child makes over a period of three or four weeks.
-
4
Record the times and dates your child visits the toilet to defecate.
-
5
Note the consistency of the fecal matter---whether it is particularly hard, soft, wet or dry, and record the size of what you see including large, average or small.
-
6
Consider the child's response to the toilet experience, including whether the experience has caused the child any discomfort, difficulty or pain.
-
7
Make a note of what the child eats each day, as this can reveal links between foods eaten and encopresis.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Measuring the amount of urine is not always easy. If possible, ask the child to tell you when they are going to urinate and time the child's urination with a stopwatch or wrist watch. If you are trying to record the amount of urine seen during a bed-wetting episode, you will need to use your judgment---consider whether the amount you are seeing is normal, more than expected or significantly less.
According to UpToDate.com, 16 percent of 5 year olds have some difficulty staying dry at night. These steps can be used to accurately track both diurnal and nocturnal enuresis and can also help you plan how much fluid to give your child during their waking hours. For example, if a child drinks 30 ounces of fluid in one 24-hour period, this can be broken down throughout the day as 12 ounces in the morning, 12 ounces in the afternoon and 8 ounces in the evening. Keep a record of your chosen amounts and the effects on the child's urination times and amounts.
Following your child to the toilet may confuse them or make them feel awkward; be as encouraging and honest about what you're doing as possible. Give rewards for cooperation.
Recording details about urination and fecal matter can cause frustration in parents. Be patient and do not get angry with the child in question. Bed-wetting and soiling are involuntary medical conditions that will cease over time and cannot be improved simply by telling a child to stop.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit child image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
