Kidney inflammation

Diseases that represent various types of kidney inflammation are quite common in urological practice. Among them, there are a number of pathological conditions called nephritis. The inflammation process can be local or limited in nature with different course options that directly depend on the type and amount of bacterial flora in the kidneys and urinary tract.

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Causes kidney inflammation

Nephritis is a rather serious and unpleasant disease that develops within a short time after an infectious agent enters the urinary tract, with bacterial damage to the renal pelvis, renal tubules, glomeruli and circulatory system.

Nephritis can develop as an isolated pathological process, or be a complicated part of some underlying diseases (urolithiasis and frequent attacks of renal colic, acute renal failure, gynecological disorders of infectious etiology, inflammation in the male reproductive system).

The most likely causes of the development of an inflammatory reaction in the kidneys may be:

• frequent and prolonged hypothermia, temperature stress, weakening of the body's immune system;
• prolonged physical inactivity, blood stagnation;
• the presence of bad habits such as smoking and excessive alcohol consumption;
• too much exercise;
• irrational and irregular meals, consumption of stale food, as well as the use of large amounts of hot spices and salt when preparing food;
• overfull bladder, frequent attempts to "hold it in";
• long-term use of antibiotics in inadequate quantities.

Also, the presence of diabetes or various chronic inflammatory conditions in the body can contribute to the appearance of kidney inflammation.

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Symptoms kidney inflammation

The most common manifestations of inflammatory kidney lesions are:

• lower back pain, sometimes on one side;
• urinary disorders;
• general intoxication syndrome;
• cloudy urine.

Symptoms may vary depending on the stage and course of the disease.

The first signs of kidney inflammation

One of the primary signs of kidney inflammation may be a nagging or pressing increasing pain in the lumbar region. This pain is often confused with the manifestation of radiculitis or lumbago. The nature of the pain can be identified using the percussion method.

Along with the pain, there is an increase in symptoms of widespread intoxication of the body: these are temperature jumps, chills, urination disorders, nausea, weakness, dizziness. Swelling of the face or general swelling of the body may appear, appetite disappears. Sometimes there is a sharp increase in blood pressure, headache, excessive sweating.

Unfortunately, many often mistake such development of the disease for signs of a common cold or symptoms of a respiratory infection, without consulting a doctor and trying to cure the disease on their own. In everyday life, the symptoms can be eliminated, but untreated inflammation remains. In the future, clinical symptoms may manifest themselves with renewed vigor, the course of the disease may be complicated by other pathological processes, and it will become much more difficult to treat such a condition.

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Temperature during kidney inflammation

As is known, the normal temperature of the human body is 36.6 C. This temperature is the most comfortable for the course of vital reactions and maintaining normal blood biochemistry indicators. In most cases, hyperthermia is an attempt by the body to protect itself from any undesirable processes occurring in it. These can be the introduction of foreign bacteria or viruses, the development of inflammatory changes, the impact of external factors.

In case of pathology of infectious genesis in the urinary system and kidneys, an increase in normal body temperature may be observed, ranging from subfebrile to higher values depending on the stage and severity of the process.

In chronic nephritis, the temperature is often subfebrile (within 37-37.5 °C). Acute inflammatory kidney disease manifests itself as a feverish condition with a rapid jump in body temperature to 39 °C. Fever may be accompanied by increased sweating, a feeling of chills, dizziness, and intense headache.

Forms

Inflammatory kidney disease is called by the general term nephritis (from the Greek nefros – kidney, and -it – inflammation), and usually has several variants of the course of the disease:

• acute diffuse inflammation of the kidneys;
• chronic form of kidney inflammation;
• focal spread of inflammation in the kidneys.

The development of inflammation in the kidneys is a very serious pathological condition, characterized by unbearable pain and other unpleasant manifestations of the disease.

The most common types of nephritis include acute and chronic pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, pyonephrosis (a purulent focus in the kidney tissue), and tuberculous kidney disease.

Pyelonephritis is an inflammatory reaction in the renal pelvis and parenchyma.

Glomerulonephritis is a bilateral renal inflammation caused by a disruption in the structure and function of the glomeruli (kidney glomeruli through which fluid is filtered from the bloodstream).

Pyonephrosis is the final purulent-destructive stage of specific and non-specific pyelonephritis.

Tuberculous kidney disease is an infectious inflammatory process in the renal tissues, provoked by a specific pathogen: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Koch's bacillus).

All types of nephritis are quite serious and require mandatory specialized treatment.

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Acute inflammation of the kidneys

Acute inflammation of the kidneys is an intense infectious-toxic inflammatory reaction in the kidneys, namely in the vascular system of the glomeruli. The pathology spreads to the parenchyma of the organ and to the entire glomerular-tubular zone.

The etiological factor in the development of acute nephritis can be considered the penetration and toxic effect of hemolytic streptococcus on sensitive renal tissue. Acute inflammation of the kidneys often occurs as a consequence of primary or secondary streptococcal infection (for example, tonsillitis, flu, seasonal colds). But sometimes the causative agents can be other infectious agents that penetrate the urinary system during pneumonia, cystitis, and other pathological processes.

Acute nephritis most often affects young people or children.

Patients complain of body swelling and decreased urine output. Edema develops over a short period of time and is characterized by pronounced manifestations. Along with this, the amount of urine excreted decreases, which acquires a reddish-brown hue and becomes cloudy.

Increased blood pressure provokes problems with the cardiovascular system: tachycardia, cardialgia, signs of heart failure.

The body temperature also rises, accompanied by chills, fever, and pain in the lumbar region.

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Chronic kidney inflammation

Chronic nephritis most often appears as a result of untreated acute stage of nephritis, for example, when treating general symptoms, no attention was paid to the destruction of the infectious agent in the kidneys and restoration of the functionality of the organ.

The chronic variant of kidney inflammation is accompanied by complaints of general deterioration of health, loss of appetite, nagging prolonged lumbar pain, especially with hypothermia, constant subfebrile body temperature, edemas that increase in the evening. There is increased sweating, especially at night. The complexion becomes sallow, and the skin is dry. There is constant high blood pressure, pronounced hypertrophy of the left half of the heart on ultrasound. A large amount of protein, erythrocytes, cholesterol, nitrogen are found in the urine.

Chronic nephritis tends to worsen periodically. In such cases, the clinical picture of the acute stage of inflammation is observed. It is best to treat chronic nephritis at this stage, when the pathogen is activated, and clinical symptoms are fully manifested. Treatment of the chronic form is longer and more complex.

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Purulent inflammation of the kidneys

Purulent inflammation of the kidneys is a kidney disease associated with the appearance of local or merging purulent foci of the outer renal layer. Development may be combined with the presence of urolithiasis, in which a mechanical obstacle to the timely exit of urine appears in the organ. Pyogenic bacteria transferred from some pathological process in the body enter the renal tissue. As a result, some purulent areas are formed, eventually merging into a significant purulent formation.

An infectious agent can penetrate the organ with the bloodstream even if the kidney was previously healthy, and can also act as a worsening of the condition in case of untreated acute nephritis.

Clinical symptoms of purulent renal inflammation are accompanied by sharp severe lumbar pain, rapid rise in body temperature, sudden deterioration of general health. When palpating, one can determine the appearance of acute pain in the middle part of the back, the Pasternatsky syndrome test at the site of the projection of the diseased kidney is strictly positive. Urine analysis determines increased leukocytosis, pyuria, proteinuria.

Unfortunately, treatment for this disease is usually surgical.

Inflammation of the right kidney

Inflammation in the right kidney, in its clinical manifestations and the nature of pain, is similar to the symptoms of acute appendicitis, enterocolitis or cholecystitis, especially calculous. A doctor can differentiate these pathological conditions based on the results of tests and examinations of the patient.

Inflammation of the right kidney usually occurs as an independent pathological condition:

• right-sided pyelonephritis (inflammation of the renal pelvis), identified by the presence of pressing pain on the right kidney;
• right-sided nephroptosis (caused by prolapse of the right kidney).

It has been scientifically proven that the inflammatory process begins to develop faster in the kidney on the right side. This occurs due to certain features of the anatomy and physiology of the right kidney, due to which there is theoretically a possibility of congestion in it.

Treatment of both the left and right kidneys is the same, depending on the clinical signs characteristic of the disease. The patient's general well-being and age are also taken into account.

Inflammation of the left kidney

Inflammation in the left kidney should be identified with clinical symptoms of diseases of the spleen, inflammation of the colon, etc.

Inflammation of the left kidney can be one of the variants of pyelonephritis, left-sided nephroptosis, exacerbation of urolithiasis.

Particularly frequent manifestations of inflammatory disease of the left kidney: pain in the left lateral and lower back, especially when pressing and tapping; a sharp jump in body temperature, fever, urination disorders.

If you are only concerned about pain in the projection area of the left kidney, you should consult a specialist to refute or confirm the presence of an inflammatory reaction in the left kidney.

The kidney on the left side is affected much less often than the right one, or joins the process of bilateral inflammatory reaction of the urinary system organs. This pathological condition is difficult to treat and requires a lot of effort and time to achieve a positive result.

Although there are cases of single left-sided inflammation, which are diagnosed with the necessary tests and examinations.

Inflammation of the renal pelvis

Inflammation of the renal pelvis (pyelitis) is provoked by microbes that enter it with the bloodstream, lymph or through the urinary tract. With the blood, the infectious agent enters the pelvis during the spread of general infectious attacks (ARI, tonsillitis, flu, etc.), or in the presence of chronic pathologies in the body (inflammation of the genitals, respiratory system, etc.). Also, an infection can be provoked by a kidney stone, pyelectasis.

Infectious agents in the development of pyelitis can be staphylococci, streptococci, E. coli, or their symbioses.

Pyelitis manifests itself on one side, less often on both sides. Usually there is an increase in body temperature up to 40 C, pain under the ribs and in the lumbar region, pyuria.

The disease develops very quickly, the general picture is complemented by a feverish state with increased sweating, the feeling of heat is replaced by chills, there are clear signs of general intoxication of the body. Significant leukocytosis and albuminuria are found in the urine.

With adequate treatment, the prognosis for acute inflammation of the renal pelvis is favorable.

Inflammation of the kidneys in men

Men suffer from kidney inflammation no less often than women. In them, it is associated with frequent urological pathologies (prostate adenoma, urethritis, prostatitis, etc.), with some bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse, too spicy and salty food).

Male kidneys are located higher than those of women, so kidney inflammation in men has its own characteristic clinical symptoms, which determine the presence of the disease. These are frequent urges to urinate, accompanied by cutting pains, aches in the joints and muscles, a feeling of heaviness in the external genitals, tension in the smooth muscles. Often the disease can be provoked by prostate adenoma, in which the movement of urine is disrupted and an ascending process of inflammation develops.

In male nephritis, there is pronounced hyperthermia (up to 39 C), sharp or paroxysmal pain syndrome in the lumbar region. Gastrointestinal disorders, fever, and sweat glands work in an enhanced mode are possible.

Often men may consult a urologist about adenoma, but after laboratory tests it turns out that all the symptoms are caused by kidney inflammation.

Kidney inflammation in children

Kidney inflammation in children is characterized by a latent, hidden initial period, it can be diagnosed only by the results of an ultrasound examination and a general urine and blood test. Acute respiratory diseases, flu, and colds provoke the appearance of pathology.

With nephritis, the child quickly gets tired, lethargy, pain, poor sleep and appetite appear. During the period of activation of the process, the manifestations become more pronounced: earthiness of the skin, aching pain in the lumbar region, dizziness. Urination is frequent, with cloudy discharge.

Girls are most often affected by childhood nephritis, since the female urethra is shorter than that of men, so it is easier for the infectious agent to reach the kidneys.

The risk of developing an inflammatory process in children often depends on a hereditary factor, when one of the parents has this pathology, or the mother suffered from nephritis during pregnancy. The incidence of children also depends on age: children under three years of age are more often ill, less often - under seven years of age.

Children who have had kidney inflammation must be registered with a medical center.

Kidney inflammation during pregnancy

Inflammation of the kidneys during pregnancy can lead to serious problems during pregnancy and childbirth.

Often, kidney inflammation develops as a result of cystitis or other ascending infection. Urological and gynecological diseases can be provoking factors.

An inflammatory process in the kidneys that occurs for the first time during pregnancy is called gestational pyelonephritis. It can affect up to 10% of pregnant women. Nephritis has a negative effect on the period of bearing a child, can cause gestosis (spasms in the vascular system of the mother and fetus) or spontaneous termination of pregnancy. The development of renal failure during pregnancy can have extremely unfavorable consequences for both the mother and the child.

Hormonal imbalances, a decline in the body's immune defenses, compression of the urinary organs by the uterus (especially in multiple pregnancies or large fetuses), chronic cystitis, and diabetes contribute to the development of nephrosis in pregnant women.

Consequences of kidney inflammation

Qualified and, most importantly, timely treatment of acute inflammatory process in the kidneys contributes to the complete recovery of the patient.

The absence of treatment of the disease provokes the development of a chronic form of nephritis, or leads to suppuration of the pathological focus, which manifests itself in the form of pyonephritis, apostematous pyelonephritis, abscess or renal carbuncle. Purulent complications extremely worsen the patient's condition.

It should be noted that chronic inflammation of the kidneys almost never passes without a trace. Even if the process seems to be fading, the slightest provoking factor can lead to a relapse of the disease.

The most serious consequences of nephritis may become known only after several years, manifesting themselves in the form of increasing renal failure. The essence of the complication is that prolonged inflammation can cause gradual necrosis of the renal tissue. The affected organ functions more and more heavily and intensely, and, in the end, refuses to work at all, eventually dying off completely, which is manifested by the wrinkling of the affected kidney.

Also, possible complications of an untreated acute inflammatory process may be the development of xanthogranulomatous or emphysematous pyelonephritis.

That is why it is so important to consult a doctor in a timely manner, not to self-medicate and to strictly take all prescribed medications for the full course of treatment, without interrupting it in any way halfway through.

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Diagnostics kidney inflammation

The main diagnostic symptom of kidney inflammation is a violation of the urinary function. Often, the infectious agent enters the kidneys from the underlying organs: the bladder or ureters.

Diagnosis of nephritis is based on an objective anamnesis, clinical manifestations of the disease, and patient complaints.

The data from laboratory research methods are very important:

• general blood test – there are indicators of an inflammatory process (increased leukocyte count, accelerated ESR);
• general urine analysis - leukocyturia, erythrocyturia, cylindruria are characteristic;
• ultrasound examination of the kidneys - enlarged kidneys, thickening of the calyceal and renal pelvic walls, presence of calculous formations;
• tomography method – identification of abscess or renal carbuncle;
• Zimnitsky test – determination of the concentrating ability of the kidneys;
• excretory urography method – radiography of renal function using a contrast agent.

Bacterial urine cultures on a nutrient medium, determination of bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics, and biochemical studies may also be prescribed.

How to identify kidney inflammation?

Many people ask whether it is possible to independently determine the presence of kidney inflammation?

First, pay attention to the presence of clinical symptoms of the disease. If there is a sharp rise in body temperature to 39-40 C, weakness, headache, severe sweating, lumbar and hypochondrium pain of a nagging nature, urinary disorders - one can suspect the onset of pyelonephritis.

You should also take a closer look at your own urine, collecting it (preferably in the morning) in a transparent jar. You should pay attention to the color and smell: if the urine is dirty brown (the color of "meat slops"), with a sharp ammonia smell, with visible turbidity, sediment or light flakes, you should sound the alarm.

If you can notice and identify the first signs of the disease yourself, then self-treatment is strongly discouraged due to the high risk of aggravating the inflammation process. At the first suspicion, be sure to contact a qualified urologist who will prescribe the necessary therapy.

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Tests for kidney inflammation

In acute and chronic inflammation of the kidneys, the most indicative are a complete blood count, a biochemical blood test, and a complete urine test.

A complete blood count will show the unconditional presence of some inflammatory process in the body. This will be expressed in an increased content of leukocytes, an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and a shift in the leukocyte formula to the left. The level of total protein in the blood decreases (less than 65 g/l), the amount of albumin decreases (less than 50%), and the gamma and alpha globulin index increases. Signs of anemia may be observed during periods of acute inflammation. The level of cholesterol in the blood increases (more than 6.7 mmol/l).

The biochemical blood test method will demonstrate pronounced hypergammaglobulinemia, increased transaminases, and in complicated cases of the disease, signs of renal failure may develop - elevated creatinine and urea levels in the blood.

We will talk about the specifics of urine analysis results separately.

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Urine analysis for kidney inflammation

First of all, pay attention to the appearance of urine, color, smell, presence of turbidity and flakes.

Studying urine analysis for kidney inflammation allows us to determine the depth of the process and the extent of organ damage.

The urine reaction assessment for nephritis without signs of insufficiency should be unchanged, from 6.2 to 6.6. With uric acid diathesis, the indicators are already less than 6.0, and with phosphaturia 7.0 or more.

The concentration capacity of the kidneys is determined by the relative density of urine and is normally between 1.016 and 1.026. A reduced density indicates impaired renal function.

In uncomplicated nephritis, the protein level in the urine should not exceed 1 g/l. A higher protein content may indicate involvement of the renal glomeruli in the pathological process.

A clear indicator of pyelonephritis may be the detection of cellular leukocyte casts, hyaline casts, and erythrocytes in the urine.

When renal inflammation is activated, urine may contain epithelial particles from the renal pelvis.

Treatment kidney inflammation

If acute inflammation of the kidneys is detected, the patient is subject to mandatory hospitalization. Uncomplicated nephritis can be treated conservatively using antimicrobial, detoxifying, and vitamin preparations. The duration of therapy is usually 2 to 3 weeks, until the patient's urine test results are visibly normalized.

If complications arise, the nature and duration of treatment may change, including the use of surgical methods.

First aid for kidney inflammation

A patient with an acute form of kidney inflammation must call an ambulance: self-medication is dangerous, and self-administered medications can distort the clinical picture and complicate further diagnostics.

Before the doctors arrive, the patient should be laid on his back, his head slightly raised, and his legs bent at the knees. This position alleviates the patient's condition.

Helping a patient with kidney inflammation consists of eliminating the disruption of normal fluid outflow by inserting a catheter into the ureter.

Next, antibacterial therapy, immunostimulating and detoxifying, will be prescribed. If there are no complications, the doctor may prescribe drugs such as ampicillin, nalidixic acid or nitroxoline, or representatives of the nitrofuran series: furadonin, furagin, lidaprim or bactrim. If there is no effect from taking antibiotics within 2-3 days, a decision may be made about surgical intervention.

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How to relieve kidney inflammation?

If you detect inflammation in your kidneys, you should see a doctor and undergo the prescribed course of antibiotic therapy to eliminate the causative agent of this disease. Relieving kidney inflammation on your own is a big and unjustified risk to your health. However, for fans of alternative medicine, we will give several folk methods for relieving kidney inflammation:

• rosehip tea;
• dried apple compote (2 glasses per day);
• eat pumpkin in any form;
• tea from lingonberry leaves (a tablespoon per half a glass of boiling water, two to three times a day);
• tea from cornflower flowers (a tablespoon of flowers is brewed with two glasses of boiling water, the dose is divided into three times before meals);
• field horsetail (tablespoon per glass of boiling water, drink during the day);
• bearberry herb (drink instead of tea);
• birch leaves (steam 100 g of fresh leaves or 50 g of dried leaves in two glasses of boiling water, take half a glass 3 times a day before meals);
• marshmallow root (brew and drink as tea);
• nettle root (a tablespoon per glass of boiling water, a glass 3 times a day);
• juniper berries and stems (drink instead of tea).

With the help of such infusions, they get rid of swelling and soften inflammation in the kidney tissue.

Prevention

The main point of preventing kidney inflammation is timely treatment of any inflammatory processes in the body; one should not ignore the manifestations of urolithiasis, prostatitis and prostate adenoma.

Pregnant women should be especially vigilant and undergo periodic examinations and urine tests, especially in the case of multiple pregnancies or pregnancies with large fetuses.

It is also necessary to adhere to general preventive measures: avoid lack of sleep, overwork, hypothermia, increase the body's resistance to stress. High-quality and nutritious nutrition, refusal of salty and spicy food, alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks, smoking are welcomed.

It is important to observe the rules of personal hygiene to avoid infection of the external genitalia and ureter.

If you have urolithiasis, to prevent inflammation, you should refrain from active sports, long drives on bad roads, and exposure to vibration.

Of course, it is much easier to prevent a disease than to fight it.

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Forecast

In the acute stage of nephritis, the patient usually recovers completely within 30-60 days.

The possibility of developing a chronic form of the disease is indicated by consistently high blood pressure (more than 3 months) and persistent hematuria and edema. Statistics state that more than 10% of acute kidney inflammations become chronic.

Patients who have undergone therapy for acute nephritis and have been discharged from the hospital may be allowed to return to work under appropriate working conditions. Continuous work outdoors, with the possibility of getting wet and overcooled, prolonged shaking and vibration are unacceptable. Constant follow-up medical supervision and periodic testing are mandatory.

If complications arise in the form of renal failure, kidney atrophy with the addition of a septic infection, this can lead to very serious consequences, even death: the patient dies from prolonged anuria and general sepsis.

An important role is played by the earliest possible diagnosis and qualified treatment of acute kidney inflammation, which significantly optimizes the prognosis of this serious disease.

It would not be superfluous to remind you that we have only one health, and it is not worth wasting. Listen to your body, if you suspect a disease, consult a doctor. Kidney inflammation is an unpleasant diagnosis, but it is possible and necessary to fight the disease.

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