Kidney and urinary tract disorders can involve 1 or both kidneys, 1 or both ureters, the bladder, or the urethra. In men, it may involve the prostate, 1 or both testes, or the epididymis. Problems with the male reproductive system often manifest as scrotal pain, scrotal swelling, blood in the semen, or persistent erection.
Some urinary tract disorders rarely cause symptoms until the problem is very advanced. These include
Stones that do not block urine flow
Some low-grade infections
Sometimes, symptoms occur but are very general or vague and are not always obviously related to the kidneys. For example, a general feeling of illness (malaise), loss of appetite, or nausea may be the only symptoms of advanced kidney failure. In older adults, mental confusion may be the first recognized symptom of infection or kidney failure.
Symptoms that are more suggestive of a kidney or urinary problem include
Pain in the side (flank)
Swelling of the feet or legs
Problems with urination (including blood in urine, changes in the color or odor of urine, excessive or frequent urination, gas in urine, pain or burning with urination, urgency, and hesitating, straining, and dribbling when urinating)
Incontinence is an uncontrollable loss of urine, which can have a variety of causes.
(See also Biology of the Kidneys and Urinary Tract.)
