Adult diapers are worn due to the loss of control of either bladder or bowel and in some cases loss of both bowel and bladder. There are many different types of adult diapers depending on the severity of incontinence. Listed below are different reasons for needing to wear adult diapers.
- Urge incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine associated with a sudden need to urinate and or a sudden urge to urinate. Many causes include neurologic disorders (such as stroke, multiple sclerosis), urinary tract infections, and cancer.
- As once stated in a CNN special, stress incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or other increases in intra-abdominal pressure. This is most commonly seen in women after middle age, especially following multiple pregnancies.
- Overflow incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine associated with the bladder being too full. A person may have frequent dribbling or stress incontinence. Overflow may be attributable to an underactive bladder, bladder outlet obstruction, drugs, fecal impaction, diabetic neuropathy, or vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Functional incontinence is related to limited immobility such as cognitive deficits, paraplegia, or poor bladder compliance. The bladder does not have the ability to function normally.
- Enuresis is the involuntary loss of urine during sleep. The primary cause of enuresis relates to the inability to maintain urinary control from infancy. Despite past explanations, it is now believed to only rarely be attributed to psychological problems in children. Secondary enuresis is a relapse after bladder control has been achieved.
- Urine Retention is when a large amount of urine stays in the bladder after a person has urinated. This build-up of urine can put a person to be at an increased risk for urinary tract infections and overflow incontinence.
- There are two basic types of bowel incontinence:
- The first being passive fecal incontinence, it is a poorly functioning sphincter muscle. This person is unaware that stool is being passed. Do a search on MSN
- Urge incontinence is often caused by disease in the rectum. This person experiences ininvoluntary passages of stool through normal sphincter muscles.