Disorders of Excretory System

Introduction

The excretory system is a sedentary biological system of the human body that helps to remove excessive, unwanted, and harmful materials of particular organs through body fluids. In this way, the excretory system maintains healthy internal chemical homeostasis and prevents body damages. 

However, just like other systems in our body, sometimes, the excretory system also starts malfunctioning. The study says more than 17% of people in Indian urban areas die due to kidney damage. It is because of the excretory system diseases that need immediate therapy once it starts malfunctioning. 

As human beings, our living organisms consume nutrition from outside that produces energy and strength for performing normal biological processes. But, the unnecessary and excessive amount of product that has no use must get expelled from our bodies timely. In short, the excretory system enables the organs to remove these excessive products from the body in the form of sweat, urine, etc. 

But, due to some disorders in the excretory system, some organs do not work properly and as a result, the related excretory organs get affected. These lead to unwanted and dreadful diseases in human bodies that sometimes cause death. 

Disorders Of Excretory System

So, now, let’s look at some major excretory system disorders. 

• Kidney Failure or Renal Failure

Kidney or renal failure refers to the damage of both kidneys that brings the death of a human. Kidneys are the organs of the human body responsible for the filtration of urine by glomerular filtration procedure. When this excretory system stops working, the filtration also stops and causes kidney failure. 

A renal failure can be caused by various reasons, including damage to tubules, chronic drug intake, kidney stones, diabetes, etc. Regular medication, dialysis, kidney transplant, and electrolyte therapy are some treatments that reduce the chance of kidney failure all of a sudden. 

• Kidney Stone or Renal Calculi

In this disorder, excessive amounts of calcium and uric acid get amassed on the inner lining of the kidney. The layer of dissolved calcium and insoluble salt naturally expands the size of the kidney, and the patient feels unbearable colic, back, and abdominal pain and discomfort all the time. This excretory disorder is known as renal calculi. 

This disease can be caused by inflated calcium consumption, reduced water intake, etc. The treatment of this disorder depends on the numbers, size, and condition of the stones. 

• Uremia

Uremia is a condition that involves an abnormally high level of waste products in the blood. It is one of the most severe diseases where the kidneys completely stop working, and the excessive waste or urea does not get eradicated from the human body. 

The common symptoms of uremia are nausea, fatigue, loss of appetite, mental confusion, and a metallic taste in the mouth. The only treatment of uremia is haemodialysis, in which the unwanted blood gets drained from the right arteries. 

• Diabetes Insipidus

Diabetes Insipidus is also associated with disorders of the excretory systems. It happens when the human body cannot handle and correctly regulate the fluid. 

In short, it is a deficiency of the Antidiuretic Hormone that directs to the re-absorption of liquid by distal parts of the nephron and reduces urine production. When the hormone stops working, the urine naturally gets overproduced and causes Diabetes Insipidus. 

• Nephritis

Nephritis, also known as Bright’s disease, is kidney inflammation. It can result in excessive amounts of protein to be excreted in the urine and fluid to build up in the body. Nephritis can produce glomerular injury, by disturbing the glomerular structure with inflammatory cell proliferation. This can lead to reduced glomerular blood flow, leading to reduced urine output  and retention of waste products . As a result, red blood cells may leak out of damaged glomeruli, causing blood to appear in the urine .In children, nephritis is often the result of infections caused by streptococcus bacteria, while in adults it is often the result of vasculitis, pneumonia or hepatitis.

• Oedema

Oedema is fluid retention. In this disease, excessive amounts of fluids get accumulated in tissues and cause sudden swelling, puffiness, stretch, and shiny skin instantly. It is seen, especially when someone sits, stands, or lays down in the same position for a long time. 

Oedema sometimes affects the lungs and makes the patient short of breath. The presence of undue sodium ions boosts the volume of interstitial fluids and induces this disorder. 

• Anuria

Anuria means no urine. Anuria is a special condition where no urine comes out of a human body. It is because the kidneys fail to produce enough urine, and the victim does not pee. As a result, no excessive fluid comes out of the victim’s body, which is horrible in the long run. 

For fighting with anuria, one must increase the water intake and consume electrolytes for relief. 

• Polyuria

Polyuria is the exact opposite of Anuria, where the human body produces excessive amount of urine than usual. The kidney fails to filter or absorb the water, inducing Polyuria in our bodies. Some underlying diseases like Diabetes (type 1 and 2), Diabetes Insipidus, Kidney damage, liver disease, Hypercalcemia, Anxiety, and other disorders cause Polyuria. To prevent polyuria, the patient must decrease daily fluid intake and alcohol intake. 

Conclusion

These, in short, were some major disorders of the excretory system. The excretory system, being the purifier of the human body, always needs to be performed in the right way. But, due to our unhealthy lifestyle, underlying diseases, hereditary diseases, and other reasons, sometimes it fails to perform correctly. 

Therefore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking care of our excretory system should always be on the top of our priority list. Remember, any of these disorders does not depend on your age. So, as soon as you face any symptoms discussed above, contact professionals and seek medical help without a second thought.