Common excretory system diseases can affect any organ related to the system and lead to many serious health complications. Let’s have a look at some of the most common diseases of excretory system in the following article.
The human body consists of millions of cells, different organs and systems that work continuously to keep us alive. These cells and organs tend to release many by-products, toxic wastes and other poisonous substances as a part of metabolism and digestion. It is the excretory system in the body that helps in flushing out these wastes from the body and helping us to survive without any damaging effects of these toxins.
The organs of the excretory system include the lungs, skin, reproductive organs like uterus, kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder and urethra. When these organs malfunction, they fail to excrete the wastes out of the system effectively. This gives rise to some common diseases of the excretory. Let us take a look at the common diseases affecting the organs of the excretory system.
Most Common Diseases of Excretory System Affecting Lungs
The lungs are a part of the respiratory system of our body. They work like inflatable balloons that take in oxygen and then deflate to throw out carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is the gaseous waste product left behind after the gaseous exchange of oxygen takes place. There are some common diseases that affect the lungs. They include:
Bronchitis
The inflammation of the mucous membranes of the bronchi in the lungs is called bronchitis. There are two types of bronchitis: acute and chronic bronchitis. Acute bronchitis occurs after an acute viral infection like common cold or influenza infection. It leads to inflammation of the epithelium of the bronchi leading to secretion of mucus. Cough, sore throat, runny nose, nasal congestion, malaise, fever, etc. are signs of acute bronchitis. Chronic bronchitis on the other hand, develops due to recurring irritation or injury to the bronchi. This leads to inflammation, edema and excessive mucus production. The symptoms last for about 3 months to a year. They include productive cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and yellow or green color sputum coughed out.
Emphysema
This is a progressive disease where the tissues, functions and the shape of the lungs are destroyed. It is one of the chronic pulmonary diseases and is also called obstructive lung disease. This disease is caused due to chronic, long term smoking and exposure to high air pollution. This disease reduces the ability of the lungs to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide from the body. This results in shortness of breath, tachypnea, barrel chest, blue to purplish skin coloration, etc.
Pneumonia
An inflammatory condition that involves the alveoli and fills the lungs with fluid is called pneumonia. Pneumonia is caused by various factors that include bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections. It may even be caused by a physical injury and chemical burns. The symptoms of this excretory system disease include chest pain, fever, cough, breathing problems, etc.
Most Common Diseases of Excretory System Affecting Skin
The largest external organ of the body is the skin. It not only helps protect the internal organs from infections and other physical and environmental hazards, but also helps excrete salts and other waste products from the skin. Let us have a look at a few common conditions affecting the skin:
Acne
Acne or pimples is a common skin infection that affects adolescents as well as young adults. The skin is made up of pores that are blocked by excessive oil production secreted by the sebaceous glands. Dust, dirt, bacteria, etc. get trapped in the pores and this leads to acne eruptions. Excessive acne indicates that the body is not able to excrete toxins and wastes due to many hormonal and other kidney problems. Thus, one should drink lots of water and take steps to prevent acne.
Cancer
One of the most common cancers affecting people around the world is skin cancer. There are three common types of skin cancer that depends on the type of skin cell it originates from. These include melanoma, squamous cell cancer and basal cell cancer. Overexposure to UV rays leading to direct or indirect damage to DNA, smoking tobacco, genetic predisposition, human papilloma virus, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, etc. can lead to skin cancer.
Most Common Diseases of Excretory System Affecting Reproductive Organs
You may not believe it, but the reproductive organ like the uterus in women, too acts like an excretory organ. Women tend to undergo menstruation every month. This menstrual bleeding is a type of excretion of residual blood, tissues and unfertilized egg from the body. Thus, in a metaphoric way, uterus too acts as an excretory organ in women. There are quite a few diseases that affect the reproductive organs. Of these, some of the most common diseases are as follows:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Venereal diseases or sexually transmitted diseases (STD) are infections that are passed on due to unsafe sexual behavior. These diseases include many bacterial, viral and fungal infections like syphilis, gonorrhea, herpes, HIV/AIDS, candidiasis, etc. It is very important to prevent STD infections as it may lead to many serious complications as a result of which many reproductive complications as well as infertility arise. Most of the STD infections are highly contagious and can be transferred from one sexual partner to other, from the mother to the baby during childbirth and while breastfeeding.
Cancer
There are many cancers of the uterus that include uterine sarcomas, cervical cancers, etc. These cancers are devastating most of the time. It requires doctors to carry out hysterectomy and chemotherapy to get rid of the cancerous cells. This leads to infertility in most women.
Most Common Diseases of Excretory System Affecting Kidneys
The main organs that help in formation of urine are the kidneys. Kidneys filter out all the wastes in the body and bloodstream. This leads to formation of urine that is flushed out of the body. The common diseases affecting kidneys are as follows:
Pyelonephritis
The inflammation of the kidneys is called pyelonephritis. It leads to smelly urine as well as blood in urine. One suffers from lower abdominal pain due to inflammation of the kidneys. Other symptoms include pain in the groin, fever, burning sensation during urination, etc. Untreated pyelonephritis leads to permanent kidney damage.
Kidney Stones
Formation of crystals of calcium, uric acid or struvite stones result in kidney stones. This is a common disease of the kidney that may be caused by urinary tract infections, kidney disorders, etc. It leads to extreme pain, back and lower abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. One needs to drink lots of water to help break the stones and flush them out of the system.
Gout
Accumulation of uric acid in blood is called gout. It is a painful condition that requires medical attention. It occurs when the body produces extra uric acid and the kidneys fail to filter out the uric acid.
Most Common Diseases of Excretory System Affecting Ureters
Ureters are the muscular tubes that help urine to pass from the kidneys into the urinary bladder. The diseases of the urinary that affect the ureters include urethritis. It is an inflammation of the ureters due to bacterial or viral infections. The symptoms of urethritis differ in men and women. Men show signs of blood in urine and semen, burning sensation during urination, frequent urination, pain and swelling of penis and pain during ejaculation. Women show abdominal pain, pain during urination, fever, pain in pelvis and vagina, vaginal discharge, etc.
Most Common Diseases of Excretory System Affecting Urinary Tract
The urinary bladder holds the urine from the kidneys till they are flushed out through the body from the urethra. Urinary bladder and urethra are both susceptible to many infections. Infections lead to painful urination, blood in urine, sharp pain in the lower abdomen, foul-smelling urine, cloudy urine, etc. If left untreated, it may cause many kidney diseases and reproductive complications.
One should always seek medical help in order to get rid of these diseases as soon as possible. If wastes from the body are not excreted out, it will lead to many medical complications like mental confusion, delirium, sleep disorders, toxicity, etc. Hope the above information has been useful in understanding some of the common diseases and disorders affecting organs of the excretory system.
