Question

How old is the practice of using urine to diagnose illness? What are some examples of illnesses that cause abnormalities in urine?

Answer 1

Laboratory medicine began 6000 years ago with the analysis of human urine, which was called uroscopy until the 17th century and today is termed urinalysis. Today physicians use urine to diagnose selective conditions but from ancient times until the Victorian era, urine was used as the primary diagnostic tool.

Common illness in urinary disorders

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlargement of the prostate)
• Cancers or benign tumors.
• Dehydration.
• Infections of the urinary tract.
• Interstitial cystitis (conditions involving chronic inflammation of the bladder)
• Kidney diseases.
• Kidney or urinary tract stones.
• Post-vasectomy syndrome.