7. Conditions affecting the urinary system

The obstruction of the urinary tract can also be a cause of recurrent urinary infections because they produce urinary stagnation and bacteria proliferation. Moreover, a persistent obstruction may cause hydronephrosis, causing swelling and potentially impairing kidney function, which may become chronic if it remains present for too long.

Urinary tract obstruction may be mainly due to kidney stones or tumours. If left untreated, kidney stones can cause severe pain and lead to further kidney damage. In addition, prompt diagnosis and treatment for kidney, bladder, or prostate cancer can help prevent long-term harm.

A common cause of chronic kidney disease is glomerulonephritis.
Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the glomeruli, which are the tiny filters where the primitive urine is produced.

The diagnosis of glomerulonephritis is usually suggested by the presence of proteinuria (protein loss in the urine), haematuria (red blood cells in the urine), and increased blood pressure. Glomerulonephritis may be associated with other diseases which often cause other symptoms which are not directly related to the kidneys, like fatigue, skin lesions, arthritis, swelling, shortness of breath, or diarrhoea.