BTEC 112 Study of Disease
Study Guide Unit 2
1. Briefly describe a urinary tract infection and state the most common cause.
Frequent and urgent urination with pain and cloudy, bloody and foul smelling urine.
Infection of the urinary tract caused by untreated lower UTI caused by exposure to E.coli bacteria
2. Differentiate pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis.
Pyelonephritis
Inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis
Unilateral or bilateral
Pyuria (pus)
Due to E.coli bacteria
Antibiotic
Glomerulonephritis
Immune-related factor disease – allergic
inflammation of the glomerli in the kidney
nephrons
Bilateral only
No pyuria
Due to antigen-antibody complexes that get
trapped in the capillaries of a glomerulus
Bed rest, reduce salt, diuretics
3. Briefly describe hydronephrosis and state its cause.
Enlargement of the kidney caused by complete or partial obstruction of urine flow.
It is caused by calculus, tumors, enlarged prostate, urinary tract infection (UTI) or defect of ureters.
4. Briefly describe renal calculi, its signs and symptoms and its cause.
Renal calculi (kidney stones) develops in the renal pelvis and are concentrations of various minerals
usually dissolved in urine (80% calcium)
Signs and symptoms are asymptomatic at first then intense flank pain and urinary urgency.
Caused by problems in the ongoing process of balancing proper water levels while eliminating waste
from the body.
5. Briefly describe polycystic kidney disease, its etiology and prognosis.
Polycystic kidney disease is developmental defect of collecting tubules causing failure to
empty nephrons properly and form fluid filled sacs (cysts).
It is a genetic defect with two types
Adult – Autosomal dominant asymptomatic until midlife
Child – Autosomal recessive
The prognosis for this disease is poor.
6. Discuss renal failure and what glomerular filtration rate, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels are used
to determine.
Renal Failure – When the renal kidneys fails to properly filter the waste from the bloodstream resulting
in the body being poisoned.
Glomerular filtration rate – Rate at which the glomeruli filter blood through the kidneys
Normal rate is 120 mL/minute (blood)
Symptoms of weakness, lethargy, anorexia, weight less, diarrhea and polyuria occur at below
75% GFR (90 mL/minute)
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) – Test used to check for levels of nitrogen in the blood that comes
from the waste product urea (made when protein breaks down) – it is used along with the
creatinine level test.
Creatinine levels – Waste molecule that is generated by muscle metabolism – used as a gauge to tell
whether the kidneys are having poor clearance.
7. State the cause of most lower UTIs.
introduction of the E.coli bacteria into the urethra.
8. Discuss how much more susceptible women are than men to lower UTIs.
Women are 10x more susceptible than men because of a shorter urethra.
9. State the etiology of a neurogenic bladder.
It is due to damage to nerves supplying the bladder or a breakdown within the CNS.
10. Describe adenocarcinoma of the kidney and where the cancer commonly metastasizes.
It is cancer of the epithelial tissue of the kidney.
It commonly metastasizes to the lungs.
11. Describe the course of the signs and symptoms of hypernephroma and bladder tumors.
They are painless in the beginning, then lumbar pain, then blood in the urine.
12. Discuss a staghorn calculi.
It is a calcium formation that extends into the renal pelvis and at least 2 calyces.
13. Describe peritoneal dialysis and extracorporeal hemodialysis
Peritoneal dialysis – This is dialysis done at home with the process of using the person’s own
peritoneum as the dialyzing membrane
Extracorporeal Hemodialysis – Process done in the hospital or clinic where blood is drawn outside of
the body for dialysis in an artificial kidney, or dialyzer and then returned back to the person’s
circulatory system.
14. Describe the common symptoms of urinary system diseases.
Person may need to urinate often, urinate with pain or burning (UTI), lumbar pain, blood in urine,
passing calculi (stones), foul smelling urine, flank pain.
15. Describe the most common tests and procedures used to diagnose urinary system diseases.
Tests:
Culture and sensitivity
Urinalysis – hematuria, casts, color, specific gravity, proteinuria, albuminuria
Blood Chemistry – BUN, creatinine clearance
Procedures:
Cytoscopy
CT Scan
X-ray
Urography
Ultrasonography
16. Describe ectopic pregnancy and its cause.
Fertilized ovum implants in tissue other than the uterus. The cause is often due to scarring or
inflammation of the fallopian tubes as a result of infection or congenital malformation of the
tubes.
17. Discuss the etiology of pre-eclampsia.
The cause is not known, but is thought to be related to maternal nutrition
18. Discuss the relationship between pre-eclamspia and eclampsia.
Pre-eclampsia – non-convulsive form of PIH (pregnancy-induced hypertension) characterized by
hypertension, edema, and proteinuria
Eclampsia – convulsive form of PIH, characterized by convulsions and coma
19. Describe benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), its etiology, symptoms, and treatment.
Etiology – not well understood, but seems to be due to metabolic and hormonal changes with age
Symptoms – Urinary obstruction, as this increases in size, symptoms may include nocturia, dribbling,
urinary frequency, and weak urine stream
20. Discuss the following STDs symptoms and etiology:
Gonorrhea – Etiology – Caused by bacteria – most prevalent STD
Symptoms – Males – urethral discharge, pain, and urinary frequency
Females – cervicitis, greenish-yellow discharge from the cervix, urinary
frequency, and itching & burning pain
Genital herpes – Etiology – Caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) – HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS
Symptoms – skin lesions on genitals, mouth, and/or anus
Genital warts – Etiology – Caused by more than 60 types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) - virus
Symptoms – asymptomatic or experience tenderness in the area of the
warts. They appear as solitary or clustered lesions
Syphilis – Etiology - Caused by bacteria – HIGHLY INFECTIOUS CLASSIC SYMPTOM – CHANCRE
Symptoms – When untreated, typically progresses through three clinical stages, each
with its own signs and symptoms
Trichomoniasis – Etiology – A motile protozoan
Symptoms – 10-25% of females are asymptomatic and most males are asymptomatic.
Females: vaginitis, strong-smelling, greenish yellow, frothy vaginal discharge, possibly
accompanied by itching, swelling, dyspareunia, and dysuria. Males: urethritis, such as
dysuria, and urinary frequency
Chlamydial infection – Etiology – Caused by bacteria – MOST DAMAGING STD IN THE US
Symptoms – asymptomatic or present very mild symptoms. They resemble
those of gonorrhea when they present. Called the “silent”. STD because they are
often absent.
21. Name the common symptoms of STDs.
Dysuria, hematuria, urinary frequency or incontinence
Purulent discharge, or burning & itching on urination
Pelvic or genital pain
Skin ulcerations, especially on genital area
Fever & malaise
Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse)
22. Define dyspareunia.
Pain that is associated with sexual intercourse and may occur during, before, or after in both males and
females.
23. Discuss the etiology of epididymitis.
Can occur as a result of prostatitis, a urinary tract infection, mumps, tuberculosis, or STDs such as
gonorrhea and syphilis – caused by bacteria
24. State the predisposing factors and risk factors related to testicular cancer.
Predisposing factors include cryptorchidism, even after this condition has been surgically corrected,
and being born to a mother who used diethylstilbestrol (drug taken for STDs) during pregnancy.
It is rare in nonwhite males
25. Describe premenstrual syndrome and state the key tool for making a diagnosis.
PMS is a distinct cluster of physical and psychological symptoms that regularly recur 3-14 days before
the onset of menstruation and are relieved by the onset of menses.
The key tool for diagnosing PMS is the timing of when the symptoms start.
26. Describe endometriosis and its signs and symptoms.
Endometriosis is the appearance and growth of endometrial tissue in areas outside (ectopic) the
endometrium, the lining of the uterine cavity
Symptoms include dysmenorrheal with lower back pain and the vagina, profuse menses, and infertility,
dyspareunia, dysuria, and even painful defecation.
27. Describe menopause and its etiology.
Menopause is the cessation of menses and ovarian function, with a resultant decrease in estrogen
levels
Etiology – Menopause occurs naturally in women ages 40-55. It can be induced by oophorectomy, or
can result from malnutrition, sever stress, or a disease that has an adverse effect on hormone
balance.
28. Describe fibrocystic (mammary dysplasia) disease and its etiology.
Fibrocystic disease is a generalized diagnosis for a condition in which there are palpable lumps or
cysts in the breasts that fluctuate in size with menstrual cycle. Seen most frequently in women
aged 30 - 55
Etiology – The causes are not well understood, but they are linked to the hormonal change in ovarian
activity. Then tendency of the disease is to run in families.
29. State the most common site of cancer in women.
In the Breast
30. Discuss which women are at greatest risk of developing breast cancer.
The greatest risk is for women who have a family history of breast cancer.
The risk of breast cancer increases with age and is higher in women with biopsy-confirmed atypical
hyperplasia, a long menstrual history, and obesity after menopause.
Women who have not had children or who did not have children until after age 30 are also at greater
risk.