Stress Incontinence in Boy During Exercise

[heart_of_mine]

I have an 11 year old boy that sometimes has a dribble of urine that he cannot feel happening during exercise. Is this anything to worry about. It has happened while playing hockey and baseball. It doesn't happen everytime but happens enough that I am concerned.

[Kamal S Saini, MD, MRCP (UK), DM]

Hi,
By age 11, most boys have become fully continent. Enuresis, or occasional incontinence like in your son may persist longer in a few kids. Most outgrow this.
But if it bothers you, pl seek an appointment of a urologist, as wait-and-watch advise will just not help ease yor anxiety.
All the best.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi.

Your child may be drinking too much water prior to playing the game. Stress and excitement may also present with this. However, I would suggest that an initial consult will be helpful. It is best to have this evaluated early on.

Incontinence in children and adolescents  of the age 11 to 17 years comprise about 23% of the pediatric population who comes in for consult with incontinence as the chief complaint. Urinary incontinence in general  may be due to an organic or functional cause. Organic causes may be classified into" neurogenic or structural  Neurogenic forms of incontinence can be congenital or acquired; they include etiologies such as neurospinal dysraphism, sacral agenesis, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, and tethered spinal cord. Structural incontinence refers to developmental, iatrogenic, or traumatic anatomic abnormalities of the lower urinary tract that interfere with the urinary system’s ability to hold, store, or evacuate urine...Functional incontinence is that in which no anatomic or neurologic abnormality can be found. It comprises a heterogeneous group of disorders, including the urge syndrome, dysfunctional voiding, lazy bladder, and enuresis."

Source:Jones, E.A.Urinary Incontinence in Children.retrieved from http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/uda/Urinary_Incontinence_in_Children-Chapter12.pdf on May 24,2008.

Thus, based on what has been mentioned above, a complete physical and neurologic examination have to be done to help rule out an organic cause first. Functional causes of incontinence may be evaluated later on when the organic causes have been excluded.

Are there any issues on your child's development?

Any prior health issues at birth ?

I know you are highly anxious about this but a complete medical history is necessary before any working diagnosis is made. A pediatric urologist may be able to help. In some, behavioural therapy for children has also been beneficial.