234 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
PROBLEMS OF THE URINARY TRACT
There are many different problems of the urinary tract. They are not always easy to
tell apart. And the same illness can show itself differently in men and women. Some
of these problems are not serious, while others can be very dangerous. A dangerous
illness may begin with only mild signs. It is often difficult to identify these problems
correctly by simply using a book like this one. Special knowledge and tests may be
needed. When possible, seek advice from a health worker.
Common problems with urinating include:
1. Urinary tract infections. These are most common in women. (Sometimes they start
after sexual contact, but may come at other times, especially during pregnancy.)
2. Kidney stones, or bladder stones.
3. Prostate trouble (difficulty passing urine caused by an enlarged prostate gland;
most common in older men).
4. Gonorrhea or chlamydia (infectious diseases spread by sexual contact that often
cause difficulty or pain in passing urine).
5. In some parts of the world schistosomiasis (blood flukes) is the most common
cause of blood in the urine. This is discussed with other worm infections. See
page 146.
Urinary Tract Infections
Signs:
• Sometimes fever and chills
or headache.
• Sometimes pain
in the side.
• Painful urination
and need to urinate
very often.
• Unable to hold in urine
(especially true for
children).
• Urine may be
cloudy or reddish
(bloody).
• Sometimes it feels
as though the
bladder does not
empty completely.
• Sometimes there
is pain in the lower
back (kidneys).
• Sometimes the pain
seems to go down
the legs.
• In serious cases
(kidney disease) the
feet and face may
swell.