What is the clinical term for bedwetting?

The clinical term for bedwetting is enuresis. This term specifically refers to the involuntary discharge of urine that occurs while asleep, typically in children but also in some adults. Enuresis can be categorized into two types: primary, which refers to children who have never achieved nighttime dryness, and secondary, which occurs in individuals who have previously become continent but then experience bedwetting again due to various factors such as stress, urinary tract infections, or other medical issues.

Incontinence generally refers to a broader inability to control urination or defecation at any time, not specifically during sleep. Nocturia is defined as the condition of waking during the night to urinate, but it does not involve bedwetting since it pertains to conscious urination. Oliguria signifies a low urine output, which relates to kidney function and does not specifically address the involuntary nature of bedwetting. Thus, enuresis is the precise term that describes this condition.