Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust: Information for Families
Urinary incontinence (UI)
This information sheet from Great Ormond
Street Hospital explains the causes, symptoms
and treatment of urinary incontinence and
where to get help.
Urinary incontinence (UI) is any
involuntary leakage of urine (pee).
It is a common problem and can be
very distressing. In almost all cases
it is the result of another underlying
medical condition which can be
treated.
Urinary incontinence can occur in
people of all ages and is caused by many
different things. These include:
„„Congenital (present at birth) structural
problems which are usually diagnosed
in childhood, such as an ectopic
ureter (where the ureter – the tube
that carries urine from the kidney to
the bladder – bypasses the bladder
and terminates elsewhere), posterior
urethral valves (a blockage in the
urethra – the tube that carries urine
outside the body) and the more severe
bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex
(where the bladder is open and exposed
on the outside of the abdomen).
„„Disorders which can interfere with
nerve function of the bladder. These
include spina bifida, multiple sclerosis,
strokes and spinal cord injury.
kidneys
„„An overactive bladder disorder can
cause functional urinary incontinence
(day and nighttime incontinence).
„„Being in a deep sleep or lack of
bladder control can cause episodic
urinary incontinence – such as
bedwetting – in young children.
ureters
„„The consumption of caffeine or cola
drinks which stimulate the bladder.
Polyuria: a condition which causes a
person to produce too much urine.
This condition is usually the result of
another condition such as diabetes or a
significant kidney function impairment.
bladder
sphincter
urethra
Sheet 1 of 3
What causes urinary
incontinence?
Ref: 2011F1247
© GOSH NHS Foundation Trust March 2012
What are the signs and
symptoms of urinary
incontinence?
How is urinary
incontinence normally
treated?
A child will be unable to control when
they go to the toilet. They may feel like
they need to pass urine and, unable to
delay its release, will urinate very quickly
after. This is known as urge incontinence.
The treatment the child will receive for
urinary incontinence will depend on
the type of incontinence they have and
the severity of their symptoms. If their
incontinence is caused by an underlying
condition, such as a duplex kidney
with an ectopic ureter they will receive
treatment for this first.
Occasionally, they may also leak urine
when the bladder is put under sudden
pressure, for example when they cough,
sneeze or laugh. This is called stress
incontinence.
Urinary incontinence can be very
distressing for a child. They can loose
confidence, may feel socially excluded
and in some cases, might be bullied
because of their condition. They may
even find it difficult to function normally
in everyday life. Many fail to report the
problem to their parents or doctor out
of embarrassment. However, it is an
extremely common problem which can
be successfully treated.
How is urinary
incontinence normally
diagnosed?
Don’t be embarrassed to seek help for
this problem. If the child has a problem
with incontinence, talk to their doctor
straight away. They can organise an
appointment with a specialist who
can help you get to the bottom of this
annoying and distressing condition.
Conservative treatments, which do not
involve medication or surgery, include:
„„Lifestyle changes – drinking fewer fizzy
drinks, creating a routine for using the
toilet, treating constipation and losing
weight.
„„Pelvic floor muscle training – which
involves tensing and relaxing the
muscles of the pelvis.
„„Bladder training – which involves
learning techniques to increase the
length of time between feeling the
need to urinate and passing urine.
Medication or surgery may be necessary
depending on the cause of the
incontinence.
There are a number of different medicines
you can take to help with incontinence
and have possible side effects.
Common side effects to medications for
urinary incontinence include:
„„feeling nauseous or being sick
„„indigestion or tummy pain
„„constipation / diarrhoea
„„hot flushes
„„headaches
„„dry mouth
„„drowsiness
Sheet 2 of 3
Ref: 2011F1247
© GOSH NHS Foundation Trust March 2012
If all other treatments are unsuccessful,
surgery may be recommended.
There are lots of different surgical
procedures which can help with urinary
incontinence. The type of surgery the
child is offered will depend on their
medical history and details of their
problem. Before making any decisions,
you can discuss the risks and benefits of
surgery with the child’s specialist, as well
as any possible alternative treatments.
What happens next?
Urinary incontinence can be an
uncomfortable and upsetting problem
but it does not have to be one your child
battles alone. There are treatments out
there to help.
Further help and advice
Talk to the child’s doctor or health visitor.
Contact ERIC - Education & Resources for
Improving Childhood Continence - for
advice and support
ERIC
Tel (Helpline): 0845 370 8008
(10am - 4pm, Monday - Friday)
Website: www.eric.org.uk
Notes
Compiled by the GOSH web team in collaboration with the Child and Family Information Group
Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, Great Ormond Street, London WC1N 3JH
www.gosh.nhs.uk
Sheet 3 of 3
Ref: 2011F1247
© GOSH NHS Foundation Trust March 2012