Other Problems of the Urine System 369
Blood in the urine
If your urine has blood in it, and if there are no other signs
of a bladder or kidney infection, you may have bladder or
kidney stones (see below). Or you may have one of these
diseases, if they are common in your community:
• Bilharzia (blood flukes, schistosomiasis) can cause
permanent damage to the urine system if it is not treated
early enough. See a health worker trained in problems
of the urine system for treatment, and to learn how
to prevent bilharzia from happening again. For more
information about bilharzia, see Where There Is No Doctor
or another general medical book.
• Tuberculosis (TB) can damage the bladder and kidneys. For
more information, see page 387.
Kidney or bladder stones
These are small hard stones that start to grow in the kidney,
and then move through the urine system.
Other
Problems of
the Urine
System
387
tuberculosis
Signs:
• Sudden, very
bad pain:
in the back where
the kidneys are,
or in the side near
the kidneys,
or lower down
in the urine
tubes or bladder.
Other signs are:
• Blood in the urine.
This can happen if
the stones scratch
the inside of the
urine system.
• Difficulty passing
urine. This can
happen if a stone
blocks the tubes.
Treatment:
• Drink large amounts of liquid (at least 1 or 2 cups every
30 minutes). This will help wash the stone out of the
kidney and down the urine tube.
• Take a pain medicine. If the pain is very bad, get
medical help.
Sometimes the blocked urine tubes become infected. Treat
this problem the same way you would treat a kidney infection.
482
medicines for pain
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012