Nephrologist Vs Urologist

If you are unaware of the difference between nephrologist and urologist, then you are not the only one. There are perhaps, many people who are on the same boat. And I was one of them, until I came across a health and fitness article, that presented the facts on nephrologist vs urologist. So I thought, why not share the knowledge with you guys.

Difference Between Urologist and Nephrologist

Nephrologist Job Description

• The term 'nephrologist' refers to a medical professional who deals with various kinds of kidney diseases or disorders.
• This professional remains responsible for managing dialysis centers and programs.
• A nephrologist's work does not involve any surgery.
• Any disease of the kidney tends to affect the entire body. This is the reason why, this professional is also trained to deal with the use of internal medicine. Also, he/she has the knowledge that in what ways, kidney disorders can cause other organs to fail.
• It does not matter what is the origin of the disease. Some may be present right from the birth, while some may develop as diseases, and caused by lifestyle of the affected person. So a nephrologist would have to take care of all such problems.
• Very few people are aware of the fact that there are specialized pediatric nephrologists. As the name suggests, these medical experts deal exclusively with kidney disorders or diseases in children.
• Common diseases which are dealt by this medical professional include:
  • Kidney disease (chronic)
  • Urinary tract infection (chronic)
  • Kidney failure (acute)
  • High blood pressure
  • Imbalance of the electrolytes in the body

Urologist Job Description

• As the name suggests, a urologist deals with urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males.
• The job involves dealing with disorders, some of which would be unique to children and some to adults.
• Common disorders because of which people are recommended to see this medical expert include:
  • Adrenal problems
  • Anatomical defect of the kidneys
  • Diseases of the ureters
  • Urinary bladder problems
  • Urethra disorders
  • Ailments of the male reproductive organs which encompass the testicles, vas deferens, prostate gland, penis, etc.
• Because the platform of urology involves the study of many organs, there are different types of urologist. These may include:
  • Pediatric urologist (deals with disorders in children)
  • Andrologist (deals with male reproductive system)
  • Endourologist (deals with surgical procedures that require minimum invasive procedures)
  • Neurourologist (neurological disorders)
  • Female urologist (takes care of urinary disorders of females)
  • Reconstructive urologist (helps in treating the lost functionality of gentio-urinary tract)
  • Urologic oncologist (treats cancer of certain parts of the urinary system, with the aid of surgery)
  • Laparoscopist (is Involved in replacement for open surgical procedures)

As you can infer from the article above, nephrology and urology share certain common aspects between them. And that is why, it is not an uncommon scenario wherein a nephrologist is working together with a urologist, on a patient.