Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology Study Guide

Pyelonephritis Pyelonephritis is a specific kind of urinary tract infection that starts affecting the urethra or kidney and finally infects the kidney. This infection is caused by bacteria entering the tubes that carry urine out of the body where it reaches the urinary tract. The most common bacterium that causes pyelonephritis is Escherichia coli . Viruses can also cause this infection of the urinary tract. These bacteria or viruses can transmit from the bladder to the kidneys and even to other organs from the bloodstream. Signs and symptoms of this infection include fever, vomiting, back pain, pain in the sides and groin, chills, nausea, a pain and burning sensation while urinating, pus or blood in urine, and a bad odor in urine. Urogenital Infections Urogenital infections are infections in the renal system that are not caused due to sexual transmission. The two most common urogenital infections are urinary tract infection and yeast vaginitis. The vagina can inhibit about 50 different microbial species. Risk factors for UTI in females includes sexual orientation, multiple partners, and use of spermicides. These risks cause the pH level in the vagina to increase, which can cause pathologic gram-negative bacteria. The cause of UTI is the entrance of bacteria belonging to the species of Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus saprophyticus , and Enterococci . The cause of yeast vaginitis is a different species of yeast and these infections are generally built locally. The main symptoms of this infection include strong, persistent urge to urinate, pain and burning sensation at the time of urinating, frequent and small quantity of urine, cloudy appearance of urine, blood in the urine, itching in the vagina, a strong, bad odor in urine, and pain in the pelvic region. Glomerulonephritis Glomerulonephritis is an infection characterized by the inflammation of the glomeruli (filters in kidney). The role of glomeruli is to remove waste substances, excess fluid, and electrolytes from the kidney and excrete out through urine. Glomerulonephritis can be primary and secondary depending on the cause of the infection. If it is caused on its own, it is termed as primary glomerulonephritis, while if any other disease, like lupus or diabetes causes it, it is known as secondary glomerulonephritis. Causes of glomerulonephritis include the development of infection after the recovery of strep throat, bacteria infecting heart valves, viral infections like HIV, hepatitis B and C, lupus, Goodpasture's syndrome, IgA nephropathy, polyarthritis, Wegner's granulomatosis, hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Symptoms of glomerulonephritis include blood in the urine, cloudy appearance of urine, fatigue, kidney failure, and edema due to swelling in the face, hands, feet, and abdomen. 5.8 Disorders of the Bladder The bladder is the organ located in the lower abdomen that stores urine. Disorders of the bladder range from incontinence to cancer, which is likely to cause inconvenience, pain, irritation, and even fatal diseases of the kidney. Some of the major disorders of the bladder are studied below.

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