Incontinence
A. Urinary Incontinence.
Involuntary passage of urine occurs when the bladder or urethra is infected. There is a sudden urgency to empty the bladder, and, if the desire is not gratified, urine may escape. It occurs in older men with enlarged prostate gland. It occurs in women who have suffered lacerations from childbirth.
Loss of bladder control occurs when the nerves to the bladder or the spinal cord itself have been damaged by disease or injury.
B. Fecal Incontinence. Loss of control of the passage of feces occurs in severe diarrhea or dysentery. Excessive use of cathartics often causes an involuntary loss of fecal material. Injury to the muscles that surround the anus, either by trauma or by a tearing of these structures in childbirth, can interfere with normal control of evacuation. Hemorrhoids and anal fissures can cause the passage of feces to be so painful that the rectal contents are retained until finally the rectum is emptied involuntarily.
Injury to local nerves or the spinal cord can cause a permanent loss of control.
