Urinary Disorders
Many symptoms are related to the act of urination. The main types of abnormalities encountered are:
1. Painful Urination (Dysuria)
(a) Urethra-Acute infection, gonorrhea.
(b) Prostate-Acute gonococcal infection, Cancer.
(c) Bladder-Acute Infection, Bladder stone.
(d) Gynecological-Fibroids, cancer.
2. Frequency of Urination
(a) Painful frequency-Inflammation or cancer of urethra, bladder, prostate, uterus or rectum.
(b) Painless frequency-Excessive intake of water, diabetes, alcohol, beer, cold weather, anxiety, drugs.
3. Retention of Urine
(a) Interference with nerve mechanism of bladder due to disease of the CNS.
(b) Bladder lesions e.g. Cancer, stones.
(c) Prostate lesions e.g. Enlarged prostate of the elderly, cancer, infection, abscess.
(d) Urethral lesions e.g. Stricture, stone, tumor.
4. Reflex Urination : Occurs at regular intervals as the bladder periodically fills up, due to diseases of the brain and spinal cord.
5. Dribbling: Passage of urine commonly seen in elderly people during coughing, sneezing or straining.
6. Polyuria: Excessive discharge of urine due to excess water intake, beer, alcohol, drugs that cause excess urination, excess thirst and more urination.
7. Oliguria: When the urine output per 24 hours decreases less than 400 ml, below which waste products cannot be excreted.
Causes
(a) Before Kidney Level (Pre-renal) : Low blood pressure lOSS of body fluids, cardiac shock, blood poisoning, heart failure, renal artery obstructions, electrolyte disturbances.
(b) At Kidney Level (Renal) : Acute infection, destruction of kidney neprons, renal failure, drug allergies.
(c) After Kidney Level (Post-renal) : Obstruction of ureter.
8. Enuresis: Involuntary passage of urine at night or during sleep-bed-wetting. This is normal for the under two age group. By 2.5 years of age the brain controls urination and defecation. Some children however above 3 years to about 10 years, although normal, continue to bed wet due to a delay in the maturation of bladder control.
Management
1. Whatever the problem always consult a doctor.
2. Drink enough fluids daily.
3. Take stock of alcohol intake.
4. Follow proper hygiene while cleaning up after a bowel
5. Practice clean sex and wash well immediately after.
6. Always keep the area clean and dry.
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