Our kidneys are a very important organ. They help to filter the blood and cleanse the body of toxic and harmful substances that are excreted through the urinary canal. Disruption of the kidneys, which can lead to any pathology, infection and disease of the organ, leads to disruption of the whole body. Pyelonephritis - what is it? This is an infectious disease during which inflammation of one or two kidneys occurs. The process affects the pelvis, calyx,
kidney parenchyma. In some patients, an infection of the urinary tract joins this disease.
What can cause pyelonephritis?
This disease can occur in children under 7 years of age, and in young women, and in the elderly. According to statistics, most often pyelonephritis (what it is, we stipulated earlier) is characteristic of the fair half of humanity due to the structural features of the body. There are three types of it:
- Acute pyelonephritis (with infection in the genitourinary system).
- Chronic pyelonephritis (occurs with incomplete treatment or its absence in acute form).
- Recurrent pyelonephritis (an acute form of the disease that may appear again after successful treatment).
What symptoms does the disease have?
In the acute form of the disease, the following symptoms are observed in the patient:
- fever (38, 39, 40 degrees), chills;
- dull or aching pain in the kidneys, lower back, gradually passing into the inguinal region;
- change in urine parameters: the color may become reddish (which indicates the presence of blood in it) or cloudy, a fetid and pungent odor appears;
- general tiredness, weakness;
- decreased or complete lack of appetite ;
- headaches, nausea and bouts of vomiting are possible.
In the chronic form of pyelonephritis, the disease is almost asymptomatic. Occasionally, the lower back and the region of the kidneys may hurt, the nature of the pain is aching, pulling, which reflects the medical history. Chronic pyelonephritis will differ from the acute form of the disease not only in symptoms, but also in the nature of development.
What diagnostic methods are there?
It is quite easy to recognize the acute form of the disease at the doctor’s appointment. It will not be difficult for a doctor to determine pyelonephritis according to the patient's complaints about problems with urination, kidney pain and fever. However, to confirm the diagnosis, a general urine test is prescribed, which reveals the presence of infections and microbes. Additional diagnostic tools can be ultrasound, chromocystoscopy and x-ray examination. Pyelonephritis (what is it
a complex disease, we have already found out) with the right and timely approach is well treatable.
How to deal with the disease?
Depending on the complexity of the disease, several types of medical care can be distinguished:
- diets (they are based on an increase in the amount of fluid consumed, fresh fruits and vegetables, restriction of salty and too fatty foods);
- treatment of pyelonephritis with antibiotics (drug therapy);
- surgical method (used for purulent form).
Pyelonephritis - what is it and how to treat it, we examined in this article. We hope you find this information useful.