Clinical Features – Ureter disorders
- Bacterial Infection (Pyelonephritis)
Pyelonephritis is an infection of the renal pelvis and part of the tissue of one or both kidneys, which may often start in the bladder and travel up the ureters to the kidneys. (The renal pelvis is the part of the collecting system that connects the kidney to the ureter). It occurs when resistance is low but is more likely to occur -:
- When the flow of urine from the kidneys is obstructed, (e.g. by a stone)
- If the immune system is depressed
- When there is reflux of urine from the bladder back into the ureters
- In diabetes where there is increased susceptibility to infection
- In pregnancy
Symptoms are those of an infection, with fever, pain in the affected areas which can be severe, (over the kidneys and ureters) often with frequency and burning of urine.
It can be acute or chronic, rarely chronic pyelonephritis can lead to severe kidney damage and kidney failure. Click here for Kidney disorders guidance.
Urinary infections are the commonest cause of bacteraemia (the presence of bacteria in the blood) and septicaemia (infection throughout the body caused by the presence of bacteria and toxins in the blood).
- Hydronephrosis and Hydroureter
Hydronephrosis is the swelling of the kidneys when urine flow is obstructed in any of part of the urinary tract. Swelling of the ureter, which always accompanies hydronephrosis, is called hydroureter. Hydronephrosis implies that a ureter and the renal pelvis (the connection of the ureter to the kidney) are overfilled (dilated) with urine causing resultant back pressure.
Continued back pressure can cause thinning of the substance of the kidney.
Delay in treatment can lead to kidney damage.
Click here for details of:
- Image of Hydronephrosis & Hydroureter
- Ureteric Colic (Stone in Ureter)
The pain caused by stones is not dependant on the size of the stone. The ureters go into muscular spasm in order to pass the stone, and ureteric colic causes pain which can be excruciating, coming in spasms (colicky) and which runs from the loin (the back) to the groin. The pain may be referred to areas such as the perineum in the female or the scrotum or tip of the penis in the male. Pain can be relieved somewhat by curling up and is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Haematuria (blood in the urine) may be present.
Diagnosis is often made on plain abdominal X-ray (as the stones often will show up) or Intravenous Urography (IVU), but a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan without contrast medium is becoming the standard test.
Click here for details of:
- Images of Urinary tract stones
- Kidney Investigations and Diagnostic tests
- Enlarged Prostate
The prostate gland surrounds the urethra, and if enlarged, will gradually press on it and cause urinary obstruction. This can lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder, stagnation of urine, possible urinary tract infections, stones or ultimately kidney damage.
It may be a result of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, Prostatitis, and Prostate Cancer.
- Benign Prostatic hypertrophy
This is an enlargement of the prostate gland, which is non-cancerous.
- Prostatitis
This is inflammation and swelling of the prostate gland usually caused by bacterial infection.
Click on the links for details of:
Amended June 2008
