UROGENITAL SYSTEM – Illnesses and disorders

The following are just a few of the many diseases and disorders that can affect the urinary system
or its parts.

Kidney failure can be divided into two types. Acute (short-term) kidney failure appears most
frequently as a complication of a serious illness such as heart failure, liver failure,
dehydration, severe burns, and excessive bleeding. Acute kidney failure is a temporary condition
that can be reversed with proper and timely treatment. Chronic kidney failure, which is long-term
and irreversible, can be triggered by diabetes, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, and sickle cell
anemia, among other conditions. Without proper treatment which removes wastes from the bloodstream,
chronic kidney failure is fatal.

Dialysis is a process which is used to solve this situation. Small molecules in a solution are
separated from large molecules in this process. It has come to play a crucial role in the health of
humans. For some people, the term dialysis refers to a specific kind of medical treatment in which
the dialysis machine takes on the functions of a human kidney. Dialysis machines have made possible
the survival of thousands of people who would otherwise have died as a result of kidney failure.

The kidney dialysis machine was invented by Dutch-American surgeon Willem Johan Kolff in 1945.
Since that time, many improvements have been made to the machine and to the procedure of removing
wastes from the blood of people whose kidneys have ceased to function.

The most common dialysis treatment prescribed is known as hemodialysis. In short, during this
procedure, two needles attached to tubes are inserted into veins in an individual's arm. Blood is
drawn out of the person's body through one tube and pumped through the dialysis machine. Inside the
machine, the blood is circulated on one side of a semipermeable membrane. This means that the
membrane allows the passage of certain sized molecules (such as waste products) across it, but
prevents the passage of other, larger molecules (such as blood cells). A special dialysis fluid
containing mineral ions and other substances necessary to the body circulates on the other side of
the membrane. As blood circulates in the machine, wastes and other unneeded substances in the blood
are drawn out through the membrane. At the same time, the mineral ions and other chemicals in the
dialysis fluid cross the membrane into the blood. The "cleansed" and chemically-balanced blood is
then returned to the person's body through the second tube.

Most hemodialysis patients require treatment two to three times a week, and each treatment can last
several hours.

Kidney stones are solid accumulations or material that forms in the tubal system of the kidneys.
Kidney stones cause problems when they block the flow of urine through or out of the kidneys. When
the stones move along the ureter, they cause severe pain.

Kidney stones are most common among white males over the age of thirty. The stones can be composed
of a variety of substances, but the majority (about 80 percent) is formed from calcium salts that
have separated from the urine to form crystals that combine to form larger stones. Some may grow as
big as golf balls.

Increased blood levels of calcium caused by a diet heavy in meat, fish, and poultry can lead to the
formation of kidney stones. Certain diseases—hyperthyroidism and some types of cancer—can also
increase blood calcium levels.

Individuals who have kidneys stones usually do not have symptoms until the stones pass into the
ureter. Prior to this, some people may notice blood in their urine. Once the stone is in the
ureter, however, most people will experience severe bouts of crampy pain that usually begins in the
area between the lower ribs and the hip bone. Nausea, vomiting, and extremely frequent and painful
urination may then occur.

Although most kidney stones will pass out of the body on their own, some will not. If a stone is
too large to pass or is causing a serious obstruction, surgical removal of the stone may be
necessary. In the past, open surgery to remove the stone was common. Now, however, physicians may
use a machine to aim shock waves at the stone, either from outside or inside the body. The shock
waves often crush the stone into smaller fragments, which may then pass on their own or may be
removed surgically. In most cases, individuals with uncomplicated kidney stones will recover very
well.

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary and unintentional passage of urine. Women are affected more
frequently than men; approximately one out of every ten women under the age of sixty-five is
affected. Older people, too, are more prone to the condition.

The inability to control urination can be caused by a wide variety of physical conditions. Any
blockage at the bladder outlet that permits only small amounts of urine to pass; irritation of the
bladder due to an infection; undue pressure placed on the bladder (such as in obese individuals);
and the loss of muscle tone in the pelvic muscles, the bladder, or the urethral sphincter
muscles—these are all just a few of the many causes of urinary incontinence.

Left untreated, incontinence can cause physical and emotional harm. Those people with long-term
incontinence suffer from urinary tract infections and skin rash. Incontinence can also affect their
self-esteem, causing depression and social withdrawal.

There are numerous treatment options for urinary incontinence, depending on the cause. The
condition may not be stopped, but it can at least be improved. If weakened pelvic muscles are to
blame, exercises to tone them can be performed. In certain people, especially older women,
medications may help tighten pelvic muscle tone or the urethral sphincters. A balloon-like device
may be inserted into a woman's urethra and inflated to prevent urine leakage. Surgery to raise and
support the bladder neck and urethra may also be undertaken.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are inflammations of the urinary tract caused by a bacterial
infection. UTIs have specific names, depending on the location of the inflammation. Inflammation of
the urethra is known as urethritis. Inflammation of the urinary bladder is known as cystitis. When
the bacterial infection spreads to the kidneys, the condition is known as pyelonephritis.

UTIs are much more common in women than in men, probably due to anatomy. In women, bacteria from
fecal matter and vaginal discharges can enter the urethra because its opening is very close to the
vaginal opening and the anus. Once an infection occurs in the urethra of a woman, the relative
shortness of the urethra makes it easy for bacteria to gain entry to the bladder and multiply. In
men who are not circumcised, the foreskin can harbor bacteria that can enter the urethra and cause
UTIs. UTIs can also be sexually transmitted.

Sometimes, a UTI has no symptoms. When symptoms appear, they include pain or a burning sensation
when urinating, frequent urination, or blood in the urine. In pyelonephritis, additional symptoms
include fever and chills, aching pain on one or both sides of the lower back or abdomen, fatigue,
nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If left untreated, pyelonephritis can last for months or years.
Scarring of the kidneys and the possible loss of kidney function may result.

Typical treatment for all three types of UTIs is a course of antibiotics. An individual suffering
from pyelonephritis may also require hospitalization if the disorder is severe. Given the
appropriate antibiotic, UTIs usually go away quickly. Drinking plenty of fluids at the first sign
of a UTI may help ward it off by diluting the bacteria present and flushing the urinary system.