of urinary sphincter tone, and short, wide urethra conformation all predispose for urinary tract infection. It is reported that are more commonly affected by urinary tract infection than males, which is thought to be related to the urethral conformation. The clinical presentation of urinary tract infection depends on the location of the infection. Infection of the urethra is uncommon as this structure normally contains some flora in its distal end. Infection of the bladder causes , pollakiuria, dysuria, starnguria, pyuria and haematuria, pain on palpation of the bladder, hemaglobinuria, proteinuria and urine scald. Acute infection of the kidneys causes pyelonephritis, fever, anorexia, depression, colic, diarrhea and pain on palpation of the kidneys. Chronic infection of the kidneys causes low grade pyelonephritis, intermittent fever, anorexia, depression, polyuria and polydipsia, pyuria, weight loss and atrophied kidneys. Diagnosis of urinary tract infection is made through urinalysis and bacterial culture from urine sample. An ultrasound or rectal palpation of the kidneys can also be used. Treatment includes the administration of systemic antibiotics, allowing free access to clean water and supportive care such as fluids and NSAIDs. for upper urinary tract infection as renal failure is a possible outcome and pyelonephritis is often refractory to treatment. Prognosis is for lower urinary tract infection, but
Urolithiasis
Urolithiasis is a general term which refers to the presence of
in the urinary tract.
Uroliths are made of either calcium and other crystalline wastes that are found in urine. Many of the mineral wastes found in urine are not highly soluble. If excretion of the urine occurs promptly and regularly the minerals will stay in solution and be excreted with the fluid portions of the urine. If micturation is delayed or the transit time of the metabolic wastes through the urinary tract is prolonged, tiny crystals of metabolic wastes will precipitate out of the urine solution. Once out of solution the crystals act as a triggering the precipitation of more metabolic minerals causing the crystals to grow or calcium into uroliths within the urinary tract. The calculi obstruct the lumen of the urinary tract causing dysuria, pollakiuria and stranguria. Persistent, partial obstruction of the urinary tract leads to chronic renal failure while complete obstruction of the tract causes severe acute renal failure.
There are three conditions that must exist for uroliths to form.
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