Signs, Symptoms and etiology of common diseases, conditions, and injuries: URINARY SYSTEM

Acute renal failure

Symptoms: decreased output, fluid retention, fatigue, SOB, confusion, and nausea

Etiology: Direct damage to kidneys or other causes leading to a sudden change where kidneys no long filter blood effectively, leading to dangerous levels of toxic waste in the body

Diagnosis: observation of urine output, blood tests, urinalysis, and other imaging TX invloves correcting of underlying cause, medications and hemodialysis in the setting of severe disease

Chronic renal failure

Symptoms: Early stages have no symptoms. Later stages have high blood pressure, feeling generally ill and fatigued

Etiology: Chronic and progressive disease in which kidneys cannot adequately filter blood due to many potential factors including diabetes, high BP, and glomerulonephritis

Diagnosis: Blood tests TX is controlling BP to slow chronic failure and if it progresses far enough, hemodialysis will be needed

Renal calculi (kidney stones)

Symptoms: severer episodes of back and side pain, pain with urination, dark or foul-smelling urine, nausea, frequent urination, fever, chills

Etiology: Hard crystalline deposits forming in the urine due to abnormally high levels of certain substances in the body

Diagnosis: Blood tests, urine tests, and imaging TX involves drinking water, pain relievers, and shock wave therapy in the form of lithotripsy to help break down and flush out stones through urination

Urinary incontinence

Symptoms: Leakage of urine

Etiology: Loss of bladder control leading to leakage of urine, sometimes triggered by coughing, lifting, or sneezing

Diagnosis: Urinalysis, med hx, or physical TX involves kegel exercises to strengthen muscles that control the bladder or surgery (bladder sling)

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

Symptoms: Persistent urge to urinate,burning with urination, strong smelling cloudy urine, pelvic or flank pain

Etiology: Infection in the urinary system most commonly causes by Escherichia coli (E. coli)