Which term describes excessive urination?

• A. Pancreatitis
• B. Polyuria
• C. Hypoglycemia
• D. Hyperglycemia

Answer: (B)

Excessive urination is described by polyuria. The word combines poly- meaning many or excessive with -uria meaning urine, so it literally denotes abnormally large urine production. It’s a symptom you see when the kidneys excrete large volumes of fluid, such as with osmotic diuresis in uncontrolled diabetes or with certain medications or kidney issues. The other terms refer to conditions or states not describing the amount of urine: pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, hypoglycemia is low blood glucose, and hyperglycemia is high blood glucose. Hyperglycemia can cause polyuria, but the term for the symptom of producing too much urine is polyuria.