Pyelonephritis- Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

  Pyelonephritis is a severe kidney infection in which the kidneys are swelled and may permanently damage them as well. As the attacks come on a regular basis it is known as chronic pyelonephritis. It usually occurs in children and people with urinary obstructions.


 

Symptoms and Causes

The symptoms appear within two days of infection which has high fever, pain in the abdomen, back, side or groin, painful or burning urination, cloudy urine, pus or blood int he urine, frequent urination, fishy smelling urine, chills, nausea, vomiting, general aching, fatigue, moist skin and mental confusion. Though the symptoms may differ according to the age gap. 

The infections start in the lower urinary tract in the form of urinary tract infection (UTI). Bacteria like E.Coli causes infection which enters through the urethra, tends to multiply and keeps spreading to the bladder. From here it then travels to the ureters and he kidneys. In case if the infection is too severe then it can also cause chronic pain.


Risk Factors

If the normal flow of the urine is interrupted then the risk factors are too high. As the size of the urethras are shorter than men, they tend to enter the body more easily. Women are at higher risk than men for kidney infections. Also if anyone is suffering from kidney stones, daibetes, HIV, AIDS, cancer, enlarged prostate or people with vesicouretal reflux are at risk. Certain other factors which shall be taken into account are catheter use, cystoscopic examination, urinary tract surgery, certain medications and nerve or spinal cord damages can also put one at risk for this disease.


Diagnosis and Treatment

The doctor shall look for fever, tenderness in the abdomen, kidney infections though a urine test. It helps them to detect the bacteria, concentration, blood and pus in the urine as well. An ultrasound shall also be done for checking the cysts, tumor. An immediate test should be done within 72 hours failing which the doctor shall immediately order for a CT scan. A dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) test may be done if the doctor suspects scarring. In this test, a professional injects the material through a vein in the arm which then travels to the kidneys. Further the images that are taken as the radioactive material is seen passing through the kidneys hence showing the scarred areas. 

The treatment procedure begins with the antibiotics. These medicines follow a dose of 2-3 days but it should be taken for 14 days. The medicines are Levofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Co-trimoxazole, Ampicillin. These medicines can be ordered online from the best online medical app in India. However, if the drug therapy is ineffective then the doctor shall ask to be admitted to the hospital. In case of severe infection, a surgery named Nephrectomy shall be done where parts of the kidney are removed. 


Outlook

Pyelonephritis is a serious condition which requires immediate treatment for speedy recovery. Thus it is important to take preventive measures like drinking plenty of fluids, wipe from front to back after sex and also urinate to flush out the bacteria and avoid using products that irritate urethra.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Home Remedies To Digestion Problems

Image
The digestive system plays a very important role to maintain good health, absorbing nutrients and eliminating waste. But a majority of people are seen facing problems like bloating, cramping, gas, abdominal pain,constipation and diarrhea, which in a way creates problems in digestion.This could further lead to severe diseases like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, heartburn etc. Apples Apples are rich in pectic, a soluble fiber. Pectin is seen bypassing digestion in the small intestine which is further broken down by friendly bacteria that is present in the colon.The pectin is helpful in increasing stool bulk and thus reduces constipation and diarrhea. It also helps in reducing inflammation in the colon. Fennel Fennel, a pale bulb plant that is helpful in adding flavor to the food has long green stalks. The fiber content reduces constipation. The specialty of this fennel is that it contains antispasmodic agent that helps in smoothing muscles in the digestive system. Thus, when
Read more

Syphilis- Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

Image
  Syphilis is a disease caused by a type of bacteria known as Treponema Pallidum. It is a sexually transmitted infection (STI). It is about in 2016 that the cases for Syphilis rose to 88000 in number. It is seen that number of cases of women were seen decreasing when compared to men. However, men who have sex with men have shown more cases. Syphilis is difficult to be diagnosed as there are cases where people have been suffering from it from years without having any knowledge about it. If it remains uncured for a long period of time it can cause damage to heart and brain. It can be passed to others only through direct contact. Sharing toilets, wearing another person's clothes or using their utensils can cause no harm.   Syphilis Symptoms   The first sign of Syphilis are a small, painless sore either on the sexual organs, rectum or inside the mouth, known as chancre which people fail to notice it at the initial stages. Syphilis is found be more infectious in the first two st
Read more

Fat Embolism Syndrome- A complete Overview

Image
  Fat embolism syndrome is a part of intravascular fat that is passes through the blood vessel and causes a blockage of blood flow. The fat emboli occurs after fractures in the long bones of the lower body like femur, tibia and pelvis. As fat emboli is common and settles down on its own, it leads to a serious condition like Fat Embolism Syndrome (FES). This FES can cause inflammation, neurological changes and multi organ dysfunction.  Symptoms Of FES The   signs of FES are generally seen 12-72 hours after the trauma. Symptoms appear throughout the body which include- Rapid breathing Shortness of breath Mental confusion Lethargy Coma Pinpoint rash, found on the chest, head, neck area which occurs as a result of bleeding on the skin. Fever Anemia. Causes Of FES The idea of mechanical obstruction theory that leads to fat emboli and FSE is that when the large bones break down, fat from the bone marrow, made of fatty cells seeps down into the blood stream. This fat results in creating clots
Read more