Not everyone knows why pyelonephritis is dangerous. At the same time, inflammatory kidney disease can rapidly progress and lead to the development of serious complications. In the event of the first signs of pyelonephritis, it is recommended to immediately consult a specialist.
Definition of a concept
Pyelonephritis is an inflammatory disease of the kidney tissue. The most common pathology occurs in women (usually aged 18-35 years), as well as in men with prostate diseases and urolithiasis. Pyelonephritis has the widest distribution. It is found in all countries and among representatives of any nationality. In this case, pathology is much more often observed in people living in regions with a humid and cool climate.
Etiology
Many people know what pyelonephritis is. What is it dangerous for the kidneys, only those who started to fight pathology inopportune are aware. To establish the causes of the rapid development of such a disease, you need to accurately understand the causes of its occurrence. The etiology of the disease is the formation of the inflammatory process under the influence of infectious agents. The most common causative agents of pyelonephritis are:
- staphylococci;
- Proteus
- Escherichia;
- enterococci.
In this case, there are several ways of penetration of a similar infection into the kidney tissue. The main ones are the following:
- Hematogenous. This mechanism is the transfer of bacteria with blood flow from another focus in the inflammatory process (otitis media, tonsillitis, bronchitis, sinusitis and others).
- Ascendant. First, the infectious process affects the wall of the ureter, and then spreads to the kidneys. Due to the fact that the urinary tract in women is shorter and have a direct shape, it is the representatives of the beautiful half of humanity who suffer from pyelonephritis more often.
- Urinogenous. A similar variant of infection of the kidneys with an infection occurs when the outflow of urine is impaired (for example, when it is refluxed from the bladder).
The study of specific microorganisms that cause inflammation in the kidneys is necessary to clarify how dangerous pyelonephritis is.
Main manifestations
According to the clinical course, acute and chronic pyelonephritis is distinguished. The first of them is characterized by the following features:
- severe pain in the lumbar region;
- increase in body temperature to 38-39 o C;
- general weakness;
- fast fatiguability.
Chronic pyelonephritis has less pronounced manifestations. Body temperature rises to subfebrile numbers and only in every fifth patient. A person is bothered by mild, dull lower back pain.
Many are interested in what is dangerous kidney pyelonephritis in women. In fact, the clinical manifestations of this pathology are independent of the patient’s gender. Moreover, women are more likely to develop complications in the form of inflammation of the bladder wall due to the peculiarities of the anatomical structure of the beautiful half of humanity.
Who to contact?
There are several specialists at once who are able to provide quality medical care for pyelonephritis. Among them:
- therapist;
- general doctor;
- nephrologist;
- urologist.
A nephrologist is a specialized doctor and specialist who knows better than others about whether pyelonephritis is dangerous. This doctor is engaged in the diagnosis and treatment of only renal diseases, which allows him to concentrate on solving the problems of one single organ.
If, for one reason or another, surgical treatment of the kidneys or any other structures of the genitourinary system is needed, then the urologist will conduct it. General practitioners and therapists provide primary care for pyelonephritis and other diseases of the nephrological profile. If they fail to cope with the pathology, then the patient is sent for a consultation with a nephrologist for a specialized examination and treatment.
Many patients are wondering if pyelonephritis is dangerous during pregnancy. They can learn this, first of all, from their attending obstetrician-gynecologist. This article will be considered a bit later in the article.
Diagnostics
Many are interested in whether pyelonephritis is life-threatening with timely detection. In most cases, the disease has a fairly mild course. However, much depends on how quickly treatment measures are started. Among the diagnostic methods that are used to detect the disease:
- General urine analysis.
- General blood analysis.
- Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko.
- Biochemical blood test (creatinine, urea).
- Ultrasound examination of the kidneys.
Thanks to such diagnostic measures, it is possible to establish the presence of renal pathology in a timely manner, and patients may not worry how dangerous pyelonephritis is.
In the general analysis of urine with this disease, a large number of leukocytes is detected. In addition, the laboratory technician can see pathogenic bacteria with a microscope.
In a general blood test, most often with pyelonephritis, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate increases. Sometimes an increase in the level of leukocytes is also noted.
Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko allows you to more effectively detect and accurately determine the number of pathogenic bacteria that develop in the kidneys.
Creatinine and urea levels increase in cases where excretory function of the kidneys suffers. Typically, these indicators increase when the patient does not seek medical attention for a long time from a specialist or refuses the proposed treatment.
An ultrasound examination of the kidneys allows you to determine the presence of changes in the structure of the organ. A sign of chronic pyelonephritis is an increase in the size of the renal pelvis.
The basic principles of treatment
The disease can be characterized by a fairly rapid course. It is for this reason that every patient suffering from a similar pathology is interested in why acute pyelonephritis is dangerous. As a result, it is extremely important to begin treatment immediately after the onset of its first symptoms. The main drugs used to combat this disease are as follows:
- antibacterial drugs;
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- muscle relaxants.
Antibacterial drugs are the foundation in the treatment of the disease. Considering the danger of pyelonephritis during pregnancy, it should be borne in mind that not all drugs from this group can be used in this condition. Women in position are usually prescribed Amoxicillin, 1 tab. 3 times a day for 10 days. If there is a threat of miscarriage, then more serious drugs can be used, for example, Ceftriaxone intravenously 1.0 2 times a day.
For ordinary patients, antibacterial agents from the group of fluoroquinolones are prescribed. Most often, drugs such as Ciprofloxacin and Norfloxacin are used. Even when answering the question of why pyelonephritis is dangerous for women and men, it should be borne in mind that the pathogen of the disease will not be sensitive to every antibacterial drug. If within 3-4 days the patient does not feel better, then he is recommended to take a special urinalysis. Subsequently, the obtained biological material is plated on a special nutrient medium and after 3 days a colony of bacterial cells is obtained that caused the development of pyelonephritis. They are exposed to various antibacterial drugs, and then they determine which of them infects the infection better than others. In the future, the doctor prescribes the most effective medication to the patient.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce pain in the lumbar region. They also reduce the severity of the inflammatory process in the kidney tissue. Most often, such drugs from this group as Nimesulide and Ketorolac are used. It is worth remembering that non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be taken only after eating, as they can damage the gastric mucosa.
Muscle relaxants can reduce soreness. They also slightly improve the outflow of urine, which improves the effect of the bactericidal action of antibiotics. The most commonly used in the treatment of pyelonephritis is Drotaverin 0.08, 1 tablet 3 times a day for 5 days.
What can you do yourself?
It is impossible to fully treat pyelonephritis, completely eliminating the risk of complications. In this case, if it is not possible to consult a doctor, you can follow the following recommendations:
- Put one palm on the area where pain is felt. In the future, you should tap the edge of the other hand on the palm of your hand. With increased pain, you can be almost sure that the problems are associated with renal pathology.
- With any version of pyelonephritis, it is recommended to use a renal collection in the form of a decoction. It can be purchased at almost any pharmacy. The only contraindication to the use of the drug is the individual intolerance of its components. You can use the kidney collection courses of 2 months 3 times a year.
- You can also start taking anti-inflammatory drugs on your own ("Nimesulide" 0.1 to 1 tablet. 2 times a day for 5 days), as well as muscle relaxants ("Drotaverin" 0.08 to 1 tablet. 3 times a day for 5 days). You need to use these medicines after eating, since NSAIDs can have a negative effect on the gastric mucosa.
- In addition, it is necessary to avoid hypothermia, as they can cause an aggravation of the condition. In this case, with pyelonephritis, you should not take a hot bath and apply hot compresses to the kidney area. This is due to the fact that excessive heat can contribute to the spread of the infectious process.
Even if these measures have brought relief, at the earliest opportunity you should consult a specialist for the necessary examination and effective treatment. Only a doctor is able to answer the question of whether chronic pyelonephritis or an acute form of the disease after using these drugs is dangerous.
Possible complications
Pyelonephritis can be really dangerous in cases where the patient does not attach due importance to his symptoms and does not follow the doctor's recommendations or generally refuses to be examined. Serious complications can develop as a result of this behavior, the main ones being the following:
- septic shock;
- chronic and acute renal failure;
- secondary paranephritis;
- necrotic papillitis;
- arterial hypertension.
All these conditions are very serious and can lead to an unfavorable outcome even in the case of the beginning of a full treatment at the stage when they have already developed.
In addition to the patient's non-compliance with the doctor's recommendations, there are additional factors that contribute to the development of complications, chief among which are:
- The use of invasive research methods (for example, endoscopy with biopsy).
- Azotemia.
- Multiple organ failure.
- Immunodeficiency conditions.
- Cases when pyelonephritis is caused by a pathogen that is not susceptible to the action of most antibacterial drugs.
It is for this reason that it is extremely important to comply with all the recommendations of specialists and turn to them at the first sign of a serious pathology.
Septic shock
It represents a decrease in the level of blood supply in tissues and organs due to a significant increase in the number of bacteria and their breakdown products in the blood. Septic shock can form against the background of acute pyelonephritis. Is this condition dangerous for the body? Undoubtedly. Septic shock can lead to multiple organ failure and poses an immediate threat to human life.
If this dangerous condition occurs, the patient is treated in the intensive care unit. Even despite carrying out very active measures, it is not always possible to help a person with such a complication. Typically, septic shock develops in cases where the patient, even having severe symptoms of acute pyelonephritis, refuses to undergo treatment for a long time.
Renal failure
The condition can be a complication of both acute and chronic pyelonephritis. It is formed in connection with a violation of the filtration function of the kidneys. It develops with damage to approximately 90% of the kidney tissue. Acute renal failure that has developed outside the medical facility can cause the most serious conditions. As a result of its occurrence, the kidneys not only do not filter harmful substances from the blood, but also do not secrete fluid from the body. This can lead to multiple organ failure.
As for chronic renal failure, its formation develops gradually, more often in people with pyelonephritis already existing for 5-10 years against the backdrop of inferior treatment. The condition is dangerous in that substances harmful to humans are retained in the body.
In the case when renal failure cannot be overcome with the help of medications, the patient is prescribed a program of hemodialysis.
Secondary paranephritis
A similar complication is an inflammatory disease of the connective tissue located around the kidney. Most often it develops as a result of acute or chronic pyelonephritis. Most often, left-sided is diagnosed, less often - bilateral paranephritis. Treatment of pathology is the use of antibacterial agents. Such a complication may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature and an increase in pain. Its development may require the use of several antibacterial drugs at once.
Necrotic papillitis
Complication is quite dangerous. It represents necrotic changes in the medulla of the kidneys with a primary lesion of the papillae. Its danger lies in the fact that such papillitis can lead to serious functional disorders. This complication occurs in about 3% of patients who have had pyelonephritis. Representatives of the beautiful half of humanity suffer from this pathology twice as often as men.
Often this condition can be accompanied by a significant increase in pain. If you do not consult a specialist in time, the necrotic process can spread to other tissues, which will lead to a serious deterioration in the patient’s well-being.
Arterial hypertension
The kidneys are largely involved in the regulation of blood pressure. This occurs due to the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. With inflammation of the kidney tissue, its functioning is disrupted, which leads to significant increases in blood pressure. In this case, the dangerous condition is very poorly stopped by the use of antihypertensive drugs. Until the functioning of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is restored, the level of blood pressure will not return to normal levels.
Arterial hypertension is a very dangerous complication of pyelonephritis. With an uncontrolled level of blood pressure, serious problems in the activity of the cardiovascular system can develop. The most dangerous complications are acute cerebrovascular accident, as well as myocardial infarction. In addition, a prolonged increase in blood pressure can lead to aggravation of renal disease by reducing the elasticity of the renal arteries. Also, vision often deteriorates, since with hypertension the vessels supplying the eyes are damaged.
Arterial hypertension is another answer to the question of why chronic pyelonephritis is dangerous in most patients.
Pyelonephritis during pregnancy
For expectant mothers, the question is whether pyelonephritis is dangerous during pregnancy? This is due to the increased likelihood of developing renal pathology in this particular condition of the female body.
During pregnancy, the fetus receives all the necessary nutrients from the mother's body through the placenta. When bacterial cells enter the woman’s blood, for example, with a complication of pyelonephritis, they can penetrate the organs of a developing child. This can lead to serious complications.
What is the danger of pyelonephritis during pregnancy, obstetrician-gynecologists tell women at preventive examinations. This is done with the aim of forming a commitment in the patient to avoid hypothermia and to comply with all the doctor's recommendations. As a result, every woman in labor knows the danger of pyelonephritis during pregnancy, which contributes to a gradual reduction in complications from the pathology considered among expectant mothers.
Prevention
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