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Urge Incontinence
- Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
- Symptoms & Signs
- Diagnosis & Tests
- Prevention & Expectations
- Treatment & Monitoring
- Attribution
Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Urge incontinence is an urgent desire to urinate followed by uncontrolled loss of urine.
What is going on in the body?
Normally, people can hold urine for some time after feeling that the bladder is full. People with urge incontinence cannot hold it and need to find a bathroom quickly.
What are the causes and risks of the condition?
The most common sudden cause is a urinary tract infection. Urge incontinence without infection is common in older people and often has no clear cause. Other causes of urge incontinence are:
Symptoms & Signs
What are the signs and symptoms of the condition?
The symptoms of the disease are:
Diagnosis & Tests
How is the condition diagnosed?
People often live with incontinence without seeking help because they are too embarrassed to discuss it. The condition is diagnosed mainly on the pattern of symptoms. If it starts suddenly, it is most likely a bladder problem. Infection is the most common cause is infection. Usually the cause can be discovered after the doctor asks about the history of the problem and performs a physical exam. A test of the urine must be done to check for infection.
Prevention & Expectations
What can be done to prevent the condition?
There are ways to prevent urinary incontinence:
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
Depression is a common long-term effect for people with incontinence. The condition interferes with normal activities of daily living. Without correct diagnosis and treatment the problem will get worse and will be even more difficult to treat.
Treatment & Monitoring
What are the treatments for the condition?
Prevention is the best treatment. There are drugs to relax the bladder. Drug treatment should be monitored carefully and adjusted to each person's needs.
What are the side effects of the treatments?
All medications have potential side effects. The specific side effects depend on the medication that is prescribed. For example, a drug that relaxes the bladder may cause dryness of the mouth.
How is the condition monitored?
Follow up and ongoing monitoring is important in any treatment to make sure progress is being made.
Attribution
Author:Stuart Wolf, MD
Date Written:
Editor:Evans, Gwen, BA
Edit Date:03/26/00
Reviewer:Adam Brochert, MD
Date Reviewed:04/06/01