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by Diane K. Newman, RNC, MSN, CRNP, FAAN

Immobility, impaired cognitive status, multi-medication use, constipation, low fluid intake and subsequent dehydration are all risk factors for both men and women and can cause transient incontinence.

Acute (or reversible) incontinence is most often caused by a new or recent medical problem that is treatable. Medical conditions such as dehydration,

delirium, urinary retention, fecal impaction/constipation, urinary tract infection and atrophic vaginitis can all cause UI. Treatment to correct any of these problems should begin as soon as there is a diagnosis and once the underlying problem is resolved, the incontinence is likely to improve. In addition to medical problems, certain medications can cause or contribute to incontinence.

Bowel impaction can bring about both urinary and fecal incontinence. The build up of stool in the rectum can harden and causes an increase of pressure on the bladder and an incontinence episode may result. For information on how to encourage bowel regularity, see Bowel Irregularity

The word DRIP is an easy acronym developed by Dr. Joe Ouslander, a geriatrician at Emory University, to remember these causes:

D = Delirium, Dehydration, Diapers.
R = Retention, Restricted Mobility.
I = Impaction, Infection, Inflammation.
P = Pharmaceuticals, Polyuria, Paget's disease.

Last updated February 2007

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