Urinary system: Infections and stones

There are many illnesses that can affect the urinary system. Some of the most common ones include urinary tract infections, or UTIs, and kidney stones. Thankfully, both are easily treated but can cause severe complications if they’re not.

Urinary tract infections can affect any part of the urinary system, like the urethra, the bladder, or the kidneys. They can be broken down into different diseases depending on which part of the urinary tract the infection is.

Let’s start with urethritis, which is the infection of the urethra. It usually affects biological males because they have a longer and more curved urethra than females.

The most common causes of urethritis are the same microorganisms that cause sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, such as gonorrhea, herpes, and chlamydia.

Moving on with cystitis, which is the infection of the bladder. Cystitis usually affects females. That’s because the urethral opening in females is closer to the anus.

Now, the anus is often contaminated with microorganisms because feces that contain bacteria from the digestive tract exit the body through the anus.

Moreover, a female’s urethra is short and straight, meaning that once microorganisms have access to the urinary tract, they have a pretty short journey towards the bladder. This is the reason why it’s important to wipe from front to back when giving perineal care for a female.

Moving on to pyelonephritis, which is the infection of the kidneys. This can happen when a bladder infection isn’t properly treated.

Over time, the microorganism can multiply in the bladder, move through the ureters, and reach the kidneys. Left untreated, the infection can cause permanent damage to the kidneys.

Okay, let’s go over some common signs and symptoms of a urinary tract infection. A UTI often causes urinary frequency, painful urination, a sensation of burning when urinating, and cramping.

Specific symptoms of cystitis include pelvic pain as well as lower abdominal discomfort. Specific symptoms of pyelonephritis include high fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, as well as back and side pain.

However, keep in mind that elderly individuals might not have these symptoms. For this population, signs include changes in the appearance or odor of the urine as well as changes in an individual’s urinating habits.

Cloudy urine or a urine with an abnormal color or odor can be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Treatment of urinary tract infections usually rely on rest, plenty of fluids, and antibiotics.

Okay, let’s move one to kidney stones, also called renal calculi or nephrolithiasis, which most commonly affect middle-aged adults.

Now, one of the kidney’s functions is to filter waste products and other substances out of the blood. Some of these substances, like calcium, can build up in the kidney, leading to the formation of tiny crystals called kidney stones.

As more mineral deposits around them, stones grow bigger. In some cases, kidney stones can also develop in the bladder.

There are some factors that increase the risk of developing kidney stones, especially in older individuals. Some of these include decreased fluid intake, immobility, and urinary tract infections.