Incontinence is sometimes the first and only symptom of a urinary tract infection. Curing the illness usually will relieve or clear up the incontinence. It occurs most often in women. Urge incontinence is the inability to hold urine long enough to reach a toilet. It is often found in people who have conditions such as a stroke, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, but it can occur in otherwise healthy older persons.
Overflow incontinence is the leakage of small amounts of urine from a bladder that is always full.
In older men, this type of incontinence occurs when an enlarged prostate blocks the flow of urine from the bladder. Another cause is loss of normal bladder contractions in some people with diabetes. Functional incontinence occurs in many older people who have normal urine control but who have difficulty reaching a toilet in time because of arthritis or other crippling disorders. The first and most important step in treating incontinence is to see a doctor for a complete medical examination. This generally involves giving a detailed history of health and related problems, as well as undergoing a physical examination that focuses on the urinary and nervous systems and reproductive organs.