kidney and urinary tract disorders
Excessive or Frequent Urination
Evaluation of Excessive or Frequent Urination
Many people are embarrassed to discuss problems related to urination with their doctor. But because some disorders that cause excessive urination are quite serious, people who urinate excessively should be evaluated by a doctor. The following information can help people know when to see a doctor and what to expect during the evaluation. In people with excessive urination, certain symptoms and characteristics are cause for concern. They include Weakness of the legs Fever and back pain Abrupt onset or onset during the first few years of life Night sweats, cough, and weight loss, especially in a person who has an extensive smoking history A mental health disorder People who have leg weakness should go to the hospital immediately because they may have a spinal cord disorder. People who have fever and back pain should see a doctor within a day because they may have a Kidney Infection . People who have other warning signs should see a doctor within a day or two. People without warning signs should schedule an appointment as soon as is convenient, usually within a few days to a week, although waiting longer is usually safe if symptoms have been developing over weeks or longer and are mild. Doctors first ask questions about the person's symptoms and medical history and then do a physical examination. What they find during the history and physical examination often suggests a cause of excessive urination and the tests that may need to be done (see table Some Causes and Features of Excessive Urination ). Doctors ask about Amounts of fluid drunk and urinated to determine whether the problem is related to urinary frequency or to polyuria How long symptoms have been present Whether any other urination problems are present Whether the person is taking diuretics (drugs and other substances that increase urine production), including beverages that containcaffeine Some obvious findings may give clues to the cause of frequent urination. Pain or burning during urination, fever, and back or side pain may indicate an infection. In a person who drinks large amounts of beverages that containcaffeineor who has just started treatment with a diuretic, the diuretic substance is a likely cause. A man who has other problems with urination, such as difficulty starting urination, a weak urine stream, and dribbling at the end of urination, may have a prostate disorder. Some obvious findings may also give clues to the cause of polyuria. For example, polyuria that starts during the first few years of life is likely caused by an inherited disorder such as ArginineVasopressin Deficiency (Central Diabetes Insipidus) or In women, the physical examination usually includes a pelvic examination and the taking of samples of cervical and vaginal fluid to check for sexually transmitted infections. In men, the penis is examined for presence of a discharge, and doctors do a digital rectal examination to examine the prostate. Doctors do a Urinalysis and Urine Culture and often 