5

Module 12

Science and Health

TAKING CARE OF THE
EXCRETORY SYSTEM

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported1 by the Australian Agency for International Development
 To the Learner

Your body needs to remove the waste materials through the

different organs of excretion. If your body fails to get rid of them,
health problems might set in.

Let’s Learn This

When you finish this module you will be able to:

™ Identify different ailments that affect the excretory organs.

™ Practice desirable habits that help prevent/control common

ailments affecting the excretory organs.

Let’s Try This

Use the words below to identify the ailment described in each

number.
Acne Constipation Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Kidneys Stones Scabies

___________ 1. Commonly known as “itch” caused by small insects

burrow deep into the skin especially between the
fingers, palms, hands and soles of the feet.

___________ 2. A disease caused by microorganisms which makes a

person suffer from difficulty in urinating, severe pain
from waist down to the lower part of the back, and
presence of blood in the urine.

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 ___________ 3. A disorder that usually occurs when bacteria attacks
the oil glands.

___________ 4. It is a condition in which feces become hard and

bowel movement is irregular, infrequent and
difficult.

___________ 5. Result when salts in the urine are not eliminated and
instead form crystals.

Let’s Study This

The excretory organs may develop some ailments or disorders

which may be recognized by the symptoms observed. You should also
be aware that there are some disorders in which the symptoms are not
at all related to the disease that afflicts you. There are cases wherein
sufferers experience difficulty in urinating or too frequent urination.
These are signs that should alarm the person, that there is something
wrong with his/her urinary system. Early diagnosis and treatment of
the disorder would mean greater possibility of recovery.

Below are some disorders which the excretory system may suffer from.

™ Urinary Tract Infection (or UTI) is usually caused by

microorganisms that get into the organs of the excretory system
through the urethra, other body organs, and even the blood. A
person with UTI suffers from difficulty in urinating, serve pains
from the waist down to the lower part of the back, and presence of
the blood in the urine. It could be avoided and remedied by
drinking plenty of water, getting enough rest, changing your diet,
or taking antibiotics and practicing proper hygiene. Consult a
doctor when symptoms and discomforts persist.

™ Nephritis is a disease which results when nephrons of the kidneys

get infected. Nephritis is of two kinds, namely acute and chronic.
Acute nephritis is caused by strepthroat and infections of the skin
and ear. It is characterized by inflammation of some parts of the
kidney. When this happens, the kidneys fail to filter blood passing
through it. Less urine is produced. Fluids which cannot be excreted
may result to swelling in the face, around the eyes and ankle.
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 Headache and dizziness may also be experienced. Chronic
nephritis causes severe damage to the kidneys. The wastes that
cannot be removed from the body cells cause the tissues to die.

™ Kidney stones result when salts in the urine are not eliminated
and instead form crystals. Kidney stones may become too large to
pass with the urine. When this happens, they can lodge in the
ureter and keep urine from leaving the kidney. Today, LASER is
used to break apart most large kidney stones so they can pass out
of the body.

™ Urinary bladder stones result when a hardened substance forms

inside the bladder. Symptoms include the frequent urge to
urinate, pain when urinating, and presence of blood in the urine.
™ Urethral infection is described by fever and difficulty in
urinating. You are advised, therefore, to consult a doctor when
such discomforts and infections occur.
The other excretory organs are, however, nor spared from
ailments.
™ Scabies, commonly known as “itch” is a very contagious skin
disease. Small insects called mites burrow deep into the skin,
especially between the fingers, the palms of the hands, and the
soles of the feet.
™ Hemorrhoids are round, purplish bulges at the anus. They result
from ruptured and dilated veins in the area of the rectum.
Straining due to constipation, pregnancy, and diarrhea cause
them. Common symptoms are bleeding and tenderness in the
rectum. Large, painful hemorrhoids are usually removed by
surgery.
™ Boils are common among children. They are usually caused by
bacteria which infect the hair root or sweat glands. Red painful
lumps of pus cells on the skin characterizes boils. They can only
heal when they burst and the pus is disposed of. Keeping the
body and the surroundings clean can help prevent boils. They are
usually treated with antibiotics.
™ Acne is a skin disorder that usually occurs when bacteria attack
the oil glands. The oil glands produce sebum that comes out into
the skin surface through the pores, making the skin soft. When
the pores are blocked, perhaps by dirt, an infection builds up
inside the oil glands.

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™ Constipation is a condition in which the feces become hard and
bowel movement is irregular, infrequent, and difficult.
™ Diarrhea is caused by the infection of the lining of the intestine.
This disorder is described by quick passage of food and water out
of the intestine. More liquid intake is advisable to avoid
dehydration. A person suffering from diarrhea should avoid
spicy and oily foods, too.

Your excretory system just like all the other body systems needs
care to stay in good health. What can you do to take care of this
system?

Your excretory system just like all the other body systems needs
care to stay in good health. What can you do to take care of this
system?

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 Let’s Do This

Identify the disease of the excretory organ described. Write your

answers on the blank.
___________ 1. It is a skin disorder which occurs when bacteria affect
the oil glands.
___________ 2. They usually form when salts solidity and accumulate
in the kidneys.
___________ 3. The person infected with this disease experiences
painful urination with fever and lower abdominal pains.
Urine is cloudy with a fowl odor.
___________ 4. A disease characterized by the inflammation of the
nephrons.
___________ 5. These are round, purplish bulges at the anus, which
are caused by straining due to constipation, pregnancy,
and diarrhea.

Let’s Do More

Write C if the statement shows correct practice of caring for the

excretory system. If not write X.
___________ 1. stop smoking
___________ 2. take a bath once a week
___________ 3. expose yourself to sunlight
___________ 4. avoid eating salty foods
___________ 5. visit your doctor regularly
___________ 6. drink 5 to 6 glasses a day
___________ 7. have enough sleep
___________ 8. exercise regularly
___________ 9. avoid urinating often
___________ 10. eat plenty of fruits and vegetables

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 Let’s Remember This

™ The organs of the urinary system may develop disorders

such as kidney stones, UTI, bladder stones, nephrites
and urethral infections.

™ The skin may suffer from acne and boils.

™ The veins in the anus may develop hemorrhoids. A

person may also suffer from constipation or diarrhea.

™ The kidneys may be severely damaged such that they

are not able to filter blood. Kidney dialysis, kidney
transplant or surgery may remedy kidney problems.

™ The disorders of the excretory system may be prevented

by eating a balanced diet, having enough exercise and
rest, drinking plenty of water and practicing proper
hygiene.

™ Keeping the excretory organs enables the organs to

perform their function well.

™ You can keep the excretory system healthy by:

9 eating a balance diet
9 including fruits and vegetables in your diet
9 drinking plenty of water every day
9 taking a bath daily
9 having enough exercise
9 breathing a clean, fresh air.

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 Let’s Test Ourselves

Write T if the statement is true. If False, change the underlined

word(s) to make the statement true.

___________ 1. Drinking of plenty of water prevents the formation of

kidney stones.

___________ 2. When you find it difficult to urinate, you must see a

doctor at once.

___________ 3. To prevent urinary disorders, one must eat plenty of

salty food.

___________ 4. One must not prick blackheads or pimples to avoid

allergies.

___________ 5. Holding of urination can cause infections.

Science Fact File

A nephrologists is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis

and treatment of kidney disease.

To examine a patient, the nephrologists may do a kidney biopsy,

kidney function tests and kidney imaging techniques.

Treatment of kidney disorders may be in form of drugs, surgery,

dialysis or kidney transplant.

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 Answer Key

Let’s Try This Let’s Do This

1. scabies 1. acne
2. urinary tract infection 2. kidney stones
3. acne 3. urethral infection
4. constipation 4. nephritis
5. kidney stones 5. hemorrhoids

Let’s Do More Let’s Test Ourselves

1. C
1. T
2. X
2. T
3. X
3. less
4. C
4. infection
5. C
5. T
6. X
7. C
8. C
9. X
10. C

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