Urge incontinence is defined by which symptom pattern?

• A. Continuous dripping without urgency
• B. Urine leakage accompanied by or preceded by urge, with urgency and small-volume voids
• C. Incontinence only at night
• D. Incontinence only with coughing or sneezing

Answer: (B)

Urge incontinence shows up as a sudden, compelling urge to urinate that the person cannot defer, with leakage that accompanies or follows that urge. The bladder contractions are involuntary (detrusor overactivity), so leakage tends to be small in volume and closely linked to the urgent sensation. That pattern—leakage with or right after an urgent need to void, often with urgency and small-volume voids—is the hallmark.

Leakage without urgency points to other forms (continuous dripping suggests overflow or a fistula), nocturnal leakage points to nocturnal enuresis, and leakage specifically with coughing or sneezing points to stress incontinence.