If Sunil had been asked to write an essay in school on the most embarrassing day of his life, he would probably have chosen that day when he was about 10 years old. He, along with many of his cousins, had assembled at their grandma's house for a wedding. All the children had been bedded in a large hall on mattresses spread on the floor.

When he had woken up the next day, he had been puzzled to see that the children were looking at him in an odd way and nudging each other and giggling. His mother too was fussing over him more than usual. It was only later that he had learnt the cause of his companion's mirth. He had wetted his bed in the night.

Bed wetting is not uncommon among children up to 15 years of age. Children with this condition can't control their urinary bladder during sleep.

Sleep patterns contribute a lot to bed wetting. There is also evidence that it is in some way related to a person's genes, i.e., it runs in the family.

There are two main reasons for bed wetting. First, the bladder may not be large enough to make it through the night. Second, the nerves to the bladder may not be fully developed. Both of these problems usually correct themselves with time.

In rare situations, bed wetting can be caused by an illness or other physical problems. To rule that out, anyone with a bed wetting condition should see a doctor first.

There are several treatments available for this disorder, including prescription drugs. Some people have benefited by temporarily avoiding certain foods, such as citrus juices and carbonated beverages. Certain yogic exercises can help improve bladder control.

Here are some simple but effective techniques that anyone suffering from this ailment can try. Avoid drinking liquids such as milk just before going to sleep. Instead take the milk at least a couple of hours before retiring to bed and empty your bladder before going to sleep. If you are not a sound sleeper, you could cultivate the habit of getting up sometimes in the night to relieve yourself. You could also keep an alarm clock or ask a member of your family to wake you up once in the night.

Although bed wetting is an embarrassing condition, the person suffering from it gains little if he or she is penalised or ridiculed for the disability. The fact is that there is little that he or she can do about it. On the contrary, a wrong attitude towards the sufferer can lead to undesirable consequences such as giving the person a complex. In any case, bed wetting is a temporary illness that usually goes away on its own as the person matures and gains control over the bladder.