What are the Most Common Urologic Diseases and how are they Treated?

What are the Most Common Urologic Diseases and how are they Treated?

This article provides an overview of four common urologic disorders – urinary tract infections, kidney infection, kidney stones, and incontinence.

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Affecting both men and women, urologic diseases arise from the earliest stages of the human body’s development through the end of life. Many if these disorders are chronic and affect us not only by shortening life span, but also affecting quality of life. Medical transcription companies provide accurate EHR documentation for urologists, making it easier for them focus on handling challenges from making decisions about treatment options to the management of complications.

There are many urologic disorders and diseases and while some resolve quickly, others last a long time. In women, urology diseases involve the urinary tract. In men, they affect the urinary tract or the reproductive organs. Left untreated, diseases of the urinary tract can cause discomfort and pain, and exacerbate quickly. Kidney disease often goes undetected and damages the organs slowly over many years. Here is an overview of common urology disorders and how they are diagnosed and treated: •

Urinary tract infections (UTIs): UTI, which mostly affects women, occurs when outside bacteria get into the urethra or bladder. Typical symptoms include persistent urge to urinate, pelvic pain in women and rectal pain in men, cloudy or bloody urine, nausea, vomiting, fevers, and chills.

Medical history and anatomical and lifestyle risk factors increase risk of UTI for women. Post-menopausal, sexually active or pregnant women are at higher risk of developing a UTI. Those who have had a UTI will most likely develop it again.

Incontinence (repeated accidental urination) or waiting too long before urinating are the main causes of UTI in children. However, neurological diseases and urinary obstruction can also lead this demographic to develop UTI. Physicians diagnose UTI via urine samples and lab tests. Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs caused by bacteria. If viruses/fungi are the cause, the condition is treated with antivirals/antifungals. A lower urinary tract UTI is usually easiest to treat. Timely treatment is a must to prevent the condition from getting worse and spreading to the upper urinary tract and into the blood, which can be fatal.

•

Kidney Infection: Severe UTI can lead to bacteria to reach the kidney and lead to kidney infection. The symptoms are similar to UTI, but more severe. Kidney

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infection has to be treated quickly or else it will cause serious complications that can prove fatal. If urine flow is obstructed, surgery may be necessary.

Similar to UTI, kidney infection is diagnosed via urine tests. Other tests such as ultrasound, CT scan, or X-ray may also be used.

If the patient has high fever,

intravenous antibiotics may be administered. Severe infections may require hospitalization.

•

Kidney Stones: High levels of certain minerals in a person’s urine cause kidney stones. A hard, pebble-like piece of material, a kidney stone can form in one or both kidneys. Risk factors include family history, dehydration, obesity, certain foods, and some medical conditions and medications.

Small kidney stones may not cause any symptoms. The problem begins when the stone moves into the ureter. Symptoms include a sharp pain in the back, side, lower abdomen, or groin, pain during urination, need to urinate urgently or frequently, or blood in the urine.

Physicians diagnose kidney stones using blood and urine tests, X-ray and CT scan, and lab analysis of passed stones. Patients are advised to drink plenty of water and also prescribed pain relievers and medications that could help pass the kidney stone.

Larger stones are usually broken up via sound waves or removed using surgery or scopes.

•

Urinary Incontinence (UI): Incontinence or loss of bladder control is a common concern among women. In stress incontinence, urination occurs while running or coughing. Another manifestation, urgency incontinence is a characterized by the sudden, strong need or urgency to urinate just before losing urine. UI can be embarrassing

and

cause

emotional

distress.

It

can

prevent

women

from

participating in many physical activities including exercising.

Risk factors include birth defects with the urinary tract, genetics, and race. Factors that can increase a woman’s chances of developing UI include childbirth, menopause, chronic cough, aging, being physically inactive, and obesity.

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Other common urological conditions include prostate cancer, bladder cancer, bladder prolapsed, hematuria (blood in the urine), erectile dysfunction (ED), painful bladder syndrome, and prostatitis.

Urologists stay current with the latest studies and research so that they are well-equipped to offer many options for diseases of the urinary tract and also innovative therapies for all urologic diseases. Like many other specialists, urologists too find electronic medical record (EMR) documentation is a burden. Many are turning to scribes for help with data entry in patient records, but even this strategy is not without concerns. Medical transcription outsourcing is a practical option when it comes to EHR documentation. An experienced urology transcription service provider can provide error-free EHR-integrated medical reports so that providers can quickly track patient information, identify gaps in chronic care, and view lab results during the encounter. With a reliable medical transcription company, urologists can reap the benefits and rewards of the EHR and provide excellent care.

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