Urinary diseases, including infections, stones, and dysfunctions, can impair the function of the urinary system, which is responsible for producing, storing, and excreting urine. Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the disease. Renal cell carcinoma is a type of urinary tract cancer that can develop in the kidneys.
There are many types of urinary diseases that can affect the urinary system. The most common are urinary tract infections, which occur frequently in many patients of all ages. Stone formations in the kidneys and urinary bladder can cause obstructive urinary disease. Urinary dysfunctions, such as those seen in cases of stress urinary incontinence and urge incontinence, may also occur. Some types of cancer, such as renal cell carcinoma among others, are also seen to originate from the urinary tract.
The human urinary system is responsible for the production, storage and excretion of urine. It mainly clears the body of waste products by expelling them in the process commonly known as urination. When urinary disease occurs, the function of the urinary system is often impaired. There are mild, moderate and severe manifestations of urinary disease, depending on the cause of the disease process.
Urinary tract infections such as cystitis, urethritis, and pyelonephritis often present with numerous symptoms, including pain when urinating, frequent urination, fever, nausea, and weakness. Infections usually start with cystitis, which is an infection of the bladder, or urethritis, which is an infection of the urethra. When these infections are not treated accordingly, they can sometimes travel to the kidneys and cause pyelonephritis. Organisms that are involved in causing urinary disease infections are Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella species, and Proteus species, among numerous other bacteria.
Stones or stone formations found anywhere in the urinary tract can cause obstruction in urine flow. Some components of urinary stones are uric acid and calcium. When there are high concentrations of any of these components in the urine, it usually increases the chance of stone formation. Symptoms of blocked kidney stones often include flank pain, nausea, vomiting, and blood in the urine.
Stress urinary incontinence is only one manifestation of urinary dysfunction. It is frequently seen in women due to the weakening of the pelvic muscles after getting pregnant many times and giving birth vaginally. Women with stress urinary incontinence generally cannot control urine leakage during certain activities such as coughing, laughing or sneezing. Another bladder problem is urge incontinence, which commonly occurs in the elderly and in stroke patients. This is caused by an overactive bladder, often leading to frequent urges to urinate and an inability to hold urine before reaching the bathroom.
Renal cell carcinomas are urinary tract cancers that usually develop in the kidneys. The causes of renal cell carcinoma include genetic predisposition, obesity, high blood pressure and exposure to heavy metals. Some studies have also shown that cigarette smoking increases a person’s risk of developing cancer.
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