Pyelonephritis — one of the most common urological ailments, among inflammatory diseases, it ranks second, second only to bronchitis. Its insidiousness lies not only in the cause of the occurrence, which can be a picnic held on the ground unheated by the sun, but, above all, in severe complications. So, due to sepsis that developed against the background of pyelonephritis, the Brazilian model Marianna Bridy Costa died. For the same reason, the world lost the brilliant singer Etta James and Jean-Paul II — The Pope.
However, you can say goodbye to this disease painlessly in just a couple of days, if you treat it with all responsibility and start treatment on time.
Women suffer from pyelonephritis more often than men
To the urologist's office with a diagnosis of «pyelonephritis» women visit five times more often than men. This is due to the peculiarities of the physiological structure: due to the anatomically short urethra, the intestinal flora colonizes the inguinal region and vagina, then rising into the bladder and above. For the same reason, in tender childhood, girls suffer from the disease more often than boys.
Quite often a happy marriage of a woman leads to the occurrence of this disease, especially during pregnancy, when the enlarged uterus begins to put pressure on the kidneys, provoking changes in their functioning. After the birth of a child, these problems leave a woman, but during gestation, she should be especially attentive to her health.
Another reason for the appearance of pyelonephritis in women can be an active sex life. Among other sources of this disease in women — the presence of fibroids, uterine cancer and other diseases of the genital organs.
But men are overtaken by pyelonephritis after 60 years. As a rule, its appearance is due to the presence of prostate adenoma, urethritis, prostatitis. Urolithiasis with frequent renal colic can also be complicated by this urological disease.
At risk:
• congenital malformations of the kidneys, bladder and urethra;
• diabetes;
• diseases of the prostate gland, bladder catheterization;
• operations on the organs of the urinary system, nephrolithiasis;
• spinal cord injury;
• uterine prolapse.
In the prevailing cases, pyelonephritis is caused by Escherichia coli, which during defecation enters from the anus into the urethra. However, infection can also occur due to inflammation of other organs. The presence of cystitis or a carbuncle that has jumped out on the body — also symptoms of pyelonephritis, the development of which can occur in different ways: through the blood (hematogenous), together with lymph (lymphogenic), from the bladder (urinogenic).
Cranberry juice will help with acute pyelonephritis
So, pyelonephritis is often a continuation of untreated infections or retribution for one's recklessness: rushed into a cold pond in front of an astonished audience — and get rezi in the side. Or dressed inappropriately for the weather, caught a cold, and an inflammatory process began in the kidney, the manifestation of which often threatens with acute pyelonephritis.
Manifestations of acute pyelonephritis:
• a sharp increase in temperature, nausea, vomiting, fever;
• general weakness, fatigue;
• severe dehydration;
• dull aching pain in the side on the side of the lesion or in the lower back;
• frequent urination.
Pyelonephritis is indicated by lower back pain. One has only to lightly hit this area with the edge of the palm, as the kidney will immediately respond with sharp pain. And changes in laboratory tests dispel the last doubts. An increase in leukocytes, erythrocytes and pathogens in the urine and leukocytosis in the blood with an increase in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate are the main markers of this inflammatory disease.
Ultrasound examination allows to determine the size and shape of the kidneys, as well as the place of formation of the carbuncle of the kidney, which is formed from many pustules.
What to do?
• First of all, consult a doctor and strictly follow his instructions. In 95% of cases, if treatment was started immediately, this disease can be cured in a few days.
• In the early days, bed rest is mandatory for the patient. It’s better not to get out from under the blanket, it’s cold — the worst enemy of weakened kidneys.
• Stick to the drinking regime. This will dilute the blood and remove bacteria. It is good to drink cranberry juice (in its pure form or diluted with water). But from sweet carbonated drinks, and even more so from coffee and alcohol, you should refuse.
• Despite the fact that such patients experience severe pain during urination, it is important to prevent infrequent emptying of the bladder. You need to urinate as often as possible.
Secondary pyelonephritis can masquerade as other ailments
The development of secondary pyelonephritis occurs mostly due to diseases characterized by a violation of the outflow of urine from the kidney. Anomalies in the development of organs (omission of the kidney, expansion of the renal calyces and pelvis, tumor in the bladder) lead to secondary pyelonephritis, which at this stage cannot be diagnosed with the help of tests. They simply do not reflect the picture of the defeat, remaining normal. This is explained simply: if there is a stone in the ureter that blocks the kidney, then another one can take over its functions.
So it turns out that such patients sometimes go in circles, from one therapist to another, drink drugs that do not help, and do not even suspect that they should immediately contact a urologist.
What to do?
• Both in acute pyelonephritis and in secondary pyelonephritis, antibiotics are prescribed to relieve inflammation.
• Treatment of secondary pyelonephritis begins with the elimination of the cause of its occurrence, for example, hydronephrosis, which requires surgery.
• In some forms, conservative treatment is possible. So, it is prescribed for the omission of the kidney. Performing special exercises and wearing a bandage allows the patient to cope with this problem.
• In acute secondary pyelonephritis, the kidney is catheterized to restore the outflow of urine. They do this now with the help of special stents: one end of the stent is wrapped in the renal pelvis, and the other — in the bladder. And the kidney begins to function normally.
Chronic pyelonephritis, as a rule, is a logical continuation of undertreated inflammation of the kidneys. A patient was admitted with acute pyelonephritis, rested for a couple of days — and running errands. It is unknown to him that the bacterial bacillus that has settled in the kidney will still remind of itself and will return with inflammation in a month or two. Or you may not feel the development of the disease at all, because it develops hidden, manifesting itself in a mild form. Yes, and its reflection can be seen only in the stage of exacerbation and remission. But to identify it in a latent course is possible only with the help of a urine test according to
Nechiporenko or similar samples of Ambourzhe and Addis-Kakovsky.
• infections of the lower parts of the urinary system (cystitis, urethritis);
• stitching pain during urination;
• increased urge to urinate;
• change in color and smell of urine, the appearance of blood in it.
• Be sure to conduct regular examinations and all necessary studies.
If pyelonephritis is not treated, then the kidney shrinks over time, all its tubules, glomeruli decrease, which can lead to dysfunction, for example, to chronic renal failure, and in the worst case, to its purulent melting —
pyelonephritis. However, at the moment there are all possibilities to avoid this. Main — be responsible for your health.
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