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Giggle incontinence: a scoping review

Pediatric Research (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

Giggle incontinence (GI) is poorly described, defined, and understood. It is considered a bladder storage disorder in which laughter causes an uncontrollable episode of urinary incontinence that cannot be stopped until the bladder is completely emptied. It has been confused with stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder. A thorough analysis of 26 articles on the subject of “giggle incontinence” and associated terms was performed, including all articles since the phrase first appeared. To date, 351 GI cases have been reported. It occurs mainly in women (69.5%) at 5 years of age, with a prevalence ranging from 8.4 to 16.2 years (average age of 12.4 years), and some cases have a family history of the disease (13–16.7%). This review discusses the historical background, current understanding, and challenges related to GI. It primarily affects females after the age of 5 years, causing complete bladder emptying during uncontrollable laughter. The exact cause is unknown, but hypotheses suggest involvement of the central nervous system. Diagnosis relies on clinical history, physical tests, and urine frequency evaluation. Management involves urotherapy techniques, biofeedback, and methylphenidate. Understanding GI will aid in developing more effective management techniques.

Impact

  • Highlights limited awareness among healthcare professionals about giggle incontinence as a distinct condition, emphasizing the need for standardized diagnostic criteria and assessment tools.

  • Addresses insufficient understanding of the underlying mechanisms and contributing factors, providing valuable insights for better diagnosis and treatment.

  • Emphasizes the importance of patient education and support, calling for improved resources and counseling.

  • Urges further research and evidence-based guidelines to enhance treatment strategies.

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Fig. 1: PRISMA flow diagram.

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Data availability

The data used in this study are available upon request to the corresponding author.

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Funding

Funding

This study did not receive funding from any institution or corporate entity. The authors declare that there was no involvement of any external funding source in the study design, data collection, analysis and interpretation, writing of the manuscript, or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. All costs associated with the study were covered by the authors’ own resources.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Northeast National Medical Center of Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, México

    Adrián A. González-Maldonado

  2. Pediatric Urology Section, Hospital Materno-Infantil de Málaga, Málaga, Spain

    Manuel García-Mérida

Authors
  1. Adrián A. González-Maldonado
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  2. Manuel García-Mérida
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Contributions

Patient data for GI cases were collected by Adrián A. González-Maldonado (AG) and Manuel García-Mérida (MG). Both reviewers contributed to the research design, implementation, and analysis. AG also contributed to result analysis and manuscript writing. MG conceived and supervised the project. Cases with additional urinary symptoms were excluded.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Adrián A. González-Maldonado or Manuel García-Mérida.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and informed consent

As this study is based on previously published research in the literature, ethical approval was not required. Obtaining informed consent was not necessary as this work constitutes a review of previously published studies.

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González-Maldonado, A.A., García-Mérida, M. Giggle incontinence: a scoping review. Pediatr Res (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03065-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03065-y

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