Symptoms of kidney inflammation

Due to their multifunctionality, the kidneys are susceptible to many diseases. Let's consider in more detail the most common diseases - kidney inflammation, as well as symptoms of kidney inflammation, in the form of manifestations of pyelonephritis, urolithiasis, glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the bladder.

The functions of the kidneys in the vital activity of the human body are of key importance, since they are all connected with blood. Each of the pair of kidneys - weighing about 200 grams, contains about 160 kilometers of blood vessels, by means of which, during the day, approximately 150 liters of blood are filtered or about 50 full cycles of filtration of all human blood. And this is only per day, using the method of simple mathematical calculations, it is possible to calculate the volumes of fluid filtered by the kidneys throughout a person's life. The performance of the main function of the kidneys - cleansing the blood of unnecessary substances and excess fluid, of course, directly depends on the general condition of the kidneys, since the performance of blood filtration is associated with the accumulation of harmful substances and often with great stress on the kidneys. For example, out of a hundred liters of fluid filtered through the kidneys, one liter is converted into urine. The kidneys cleanse the blood of harmful, toxic substances, directly related to the full functioning of the body, and if the kidneys fail, then excess fluid and unnecessary substances will accumulate in the blood, thereby changing its composition and poisoning the body.

As a rule, inflammatory processes affecting the renal pelvis, renal tubules and further damage to the vessels and glomeruli of the kidneys occur as a result of hypothermia and seasonal colds. Doctors note an increase in the number of inflammatory kidney diseases during the off-season periods - spring, autumn, when the human body has not yet had time to adapt to climatic temperature changes, and is most susceptible to colds. In acute respiratory disease, tonsillitis, flu, more than 85% of microorganisms that carry the disease enter the kidneys with blood and urine. As practice shows, seven out of ten patients with kidney inflammation are women. Therefore, kidney inflammation is often considered a complication of typical female diseases, for example, gynecological diseases. Kidney inflammation is possible in the postoperative period, during pregnancy. The most common causative agent of kidney inflammation is E. coli. Less common causative agents are enterococci and staphylococci. Every year, American urologists record more than 2 million cases of kidney inflammation - pyelonephritis. In Ukraine, no one records such data, but presumably the figure is several times higher. Such a high incidence rate is explained by the similarity of symptoms of colds - fever, general malaise, which our fellow citizens treat mainly on their own, without turning to specialists or using folk remedies. At the same time, the painful symptoms really do go away until the next exacerbation, leaving in the future the possible development of chronic pyelonephritis.

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What are the symptoms of kidney inflammation?

Let's take a closer look at the symptoms of kidney inflammation - pyelonephritis - inflammation of the renal pelvis. The most vulnerable part of the kidneys, urine is filtered through the renal pelvis. Pyelonephritis has an infectious origin. Both adults and children are equally susceptible to pyelonephritis. This is a fairly common pathology of kidney inflammation, the main role in the development of which is played by pathogenic bacteria that penetrate the kidneys through the bloodstream from infectious foci or by penetration from other parts of the urinary system. The main risk factors for pyelonephritis include, first of all, hypothermia, decreased immunity, impaired urine outflow, infectious diseases of the urinary system, decreased blood supply to the renal tissue, and all kinds of kidney injuries. Urologists classify pyelonephritis:

• by the nature of the course - acute and chronic;
• according to the type of occurrence, a distinction is made between primary, the development of which is not accompanied by other diseases, and secondary, the development of which occurs against the background of pathologies and various diseases of the urinary system and kidneys;
• According to the state of the urinary system, a distinction is made between non-obstructive, developing without disturbances in the outflow of urine from the kidneys, and obstructive, developing with disturbances in urodynamics.

Symptoms of kidney inflammation, namely pyelonephritis:

• general intoxication against the background of malaise, thirst, weakness, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, chills, muscle and joint pain, fever, profuse sweating;
• elevated body temperature, elevated blood pressure;
• pain and tension in the lumbar region and anterior abdominal wall;
• frequent profuse urination, cloudy urine.

It should be noted that the symptoms of kidney inflammation are determined by the stage and course of the pathological process. In some cases, pyelonephritis is accompanied by acute symptoms, in other cases, complaints are mild or absent. Acute pyelonephritis is characterized by hematogenous infection, when pathogenic bacteria penetrate the kidneys with blood. Sometimes the infection penetrates the kidney by ascending from infectious foci of the urinary system. The onset of acute pyelonephritis is characterized by a sudden illness with pronounced symptoms - high body temperature, fever, profuse sweating, severe weakness, vomiting, nausea, pain in the abdomen and lower back. Chronic pyelonephritis can be a consequence of acute pyelonephritis, or occur independently. The bacterial origin of this disease is characterized by alternating periods of remission and exacerbation. Characteristic symptoms of chronic pyelonephritis are pain in the lumbar region, elevated temperature up to 38º C, headache, severe weakness, fatigue. During the period of exacerbation, the clinical picture of the chronic process, during the period of exacerbations, fully corresponds to the symptoms of acute pyelonephritis.

Symptoms of Kidney Inflammation in Children

To the great regret of parents and doctors, symptoms of kidney inflammation in children are quite common. Rapid development of the disease makes it impossible to diagnose at early stages of development. In most cases, a specialist can make a diagnosis after an ultrasound examination. What are the initial symptoms of the disease, what should parents pay attention to?

First of all, a change in habitual behavior, the child becomes lethargic, apathetic, has an absolute lack of interest in things that previously interested him, fatigue is observed, frequent colds, sore throats. The disease in the stage of active development will report itself with more obvious symptoms - pale skin, swelling of the lower and upper eyelids, lack of appetite, complaints of headaches and pain in the lumbar region, increased frequency of night urination, changes in the color and smell of urine. Diagnosis of kidney inflammation in children is based on the same methods as in adults, with minor features of the general symptoms of the disease that are typical for children. When diagnosing kidney inflammation in children, it is important to conduct quantitative studies of urine sediment, the value of the microbial count. Detection of the above symptoms signals the need for an urgent consultation with a specialist. In this case, it is necessary to conduct detailed blood and urine tests, and conduct an ultrasound examination. In order to prevent such cases, parents need to carefully monitor and care for the child. Namely, it is especially necessary to carefully monitor the temperature of the environment in order to prevent the slightest hypothermia of the child. It is hypothermia that provokes the occurrence of kidney inflammation in children. No less important is personal hygiene, which is more significant for babies than for adults, due to the susceptibility of the body to infections and the underdevelopment of the immune system. If basic hygiene is not observed, it is possible for infections to penetrate the urethra and then into the kidneys of the child. All kinds of parasites, such as worms or pinworms, can also provoke symptoms of kidney inflammation in children. Symptoms of kidney inflammation in children can be determined by parents, it is enough to observe the child's behavior. If, while observing the child, similar symptoms are detected, an urgent consultation with a specialist and further diagnosis of the disease is necessary.

Symptoms of kidney inflammation in women

Most often, due to the anatomical structure of the body, specialists record symptoms of kidney inflammation in women. This fact is explained by the short length of the urethra in women, unlike men, which contributes to a faster and more unimpeded penetration of infection into the bladder and kidneys. In addition, the immediate proximity of the vagina contributes to the rapid spread of infection. Symptoms of kidney inflammation in women are observed 7 times more often than in the male half. As practice shows, young women under 30 get sick with an increased risk of various infections of the genitourinary system, caused, for example, by the onset of sexual activity, pregnancy and childbirth. As a complication during pregnancy, due to the increasing load on the kidneys, symptoms of kidney inflammation in women occur. In adulthood, symptoms of kidney inflammation in women often occur due to a decrease in the protective functions of the body, weakening of the immune system after colds, flu and acute respiratory viral infections, chronic disease, systematic fatigue, stress, vitamin deficiencies. Symptoms of kidney inflammation in women usually have characteristic signs - lack of appetite, systematic thirst, dry mouth, fatigue, constant headaches and pain in the lumbar region. With the onset of the pathological process, the amount of urine decreases, the stomach swells, diarrhea begins, nausea and vomiting appear, the legs and face swell. The composition of urine changes - the level of lipids increases, it contains protein. Prolonged kidney inflammation is characterized by the appearance of a tingling sensation and numbness of the skin, loss of strength, muscle pain and cramps, which is explained by a large loss of potassium and chloride. In exceptional cases, shortness of breath may develop at rest. With swelling of the extremities, normal activity may be limited. Paleness of the skin, a decrease in body temperature, peeling of the skin, increased fragility of hair and nails are observed.

In most cases, by the age of 55, 85% of women develop kidney inflammation, and the disease proceeds without any pronounced symptoms. Exacerbation of the disease often occurs during pregnancy, due to compression of the ureters, an enlarged uterus and impaired urine flow from the kidneys. It is during pregnancy that chronic pyelonephritis, which previously proceeded without obvious symptoms and was not treated in a timely manner, becomes exacerbated.

Symptoms of kidney inflammation in men

Features of the anatomical structure of the body allow to determine the symptoms of kidney inflammation in men at the early stages of the disease. As a rule, frequent painful urination, burning in the urethra, heaviness in the perineum, difficult urination forces an immediate visit to a specialist, which actually contributes to the timely treatment of the disease. Very often, when in adulthood, men are diagnosed with prostate adenoma, which disrupts the outflow of urine and provokes the development of kidney inflammation. Symptoms of kidney inflammation in men are characterized by an increase in temperature to 38ºС, pain symptoms in the lumbar region, at the site of pain localization. By type, pain can be sharp or aching with acute periodic attacks. Sharp attacks of nausea turning into vomiting are possible. Typically, the temperature drops to 35ºС, accompanied by profuse sweating and fever. With chronic kidney inflammation, the symptoms are usually weakly expressed. The disease is latent and can only be diagnosed in laboratory conditions. The patient experiences only symptoms typical of most chronic diseases, namely, general malaise, rapid fatigue, lethargy, and a slight systematic increase in body temperature.

Inflammation of the kidneys entails a general painful condition of the whole body, muscles and joints, bones and mucous membranes - the pain spreads throughout the body. If we talk about local symptoms - the manifestation of tension of the smooth muscle of the abdominal cavity, the appearance of pain symptoms in the lumbar region are mandatory. The general condition of a person is aggravated by an increase in temperature. Well, the last defining symptom is the presence of flakes, a change in the color and smell of urine. There are many reasons for kidney inflammation, but the most common is hypothermia. Often, kidney inflammation develops against the background of weakened immunity.

Symptoms of kidney inflammation during pregnancy

Symptoms of kidney inflammation during pregnancy are characterized by severe chills with a simultaneous increase in body temperature, headache. Muscle aches are accompanied by nausea and vomiting, increased heart rate and shortness of breath. Increased sweating is accompanied by stabilization of body temperature. In the intervals between chills, a sluggish state and adynamia are characteristic. Painful sensations in the lumbar region correspond to the side of the disease. Painful sensations intensify at night, when the patient lies on her back or on the side opposite to the diseased organ. Pain is possible with a deep breath or cough. Bimanual palpation shows painful tension in the abdominal muscles. Chronic kidney inflammation is characterized by dull pain in the lumbar region, which intensifies with walking or minor physical activity, headache, general weakness. Attention should be paid to the possibility of asymptomatic kidney inflammation.

During diagnostics, as a rule, a full range of laboratory blood and urine tests are performed. But there are a number of limitations in diagnostic methods. Thus, the use of X-ray methods is contraindicated, therefore, ultrasound and endoscopic examinations, clinical examination are indicated for pregnant women. If we consider the course of pregnancy and childbirth in women with kidney inflammation, we can note the fact of a less pronounced adverse effect on pregnancy in general. With long-term kidney inflammation, miscarriage or premature birth is possible. The main cause of miscarriage is a severe form of gestosis developing with kidney inflammation. Recently, acute gestational kidney inflammation is not a determining factor for termination of pregnancy, if there are no other factors.

What are the most alarming symptoms of kidney inflammation?

The symptoms of the disease are quite clearly expressed literally during the first day of exacerbation. The most common characteristic manifestation is an elevated body temperature, accompanied by a feverish state and headache. Symptoms of kidney inflammation suggest a significant increase in sweating, and regardless of cold or heat, the patient equally experiences discomfort. The genitourinary system of the patient functions with obvious disorders - frequent urination is accompanied by pain. It is indisputable that painful urination should not be tolerated even for one day - this is a sure sign of the disease. The appearance of urine changes depending on the degree of development of the disease. The color of urine becomes dark with flakes and with a sharp odor. Often, kidney inflammation is accompanied by nausea, turning into vomiting.

Inflammation of the kidneys entails a general painful condition of the whole body, rapid fatigue, bouts of apathy, headaches are noted. As with most diseases, there is a lack of appetite, which in the case of kidney inflammation is a positive moment. Speaking about local symptoms, it is necessary to note the tension of the smooth muscles of the abdominal cavity and lumbar region. Elevated body temperature during kidney inflammation significantly worsens the general condition of the patient. Chronic kidney inflammation has similar symptoms, one can also note the presence of an earthy color of the skin, the appearance of a yellowish tint of the face, sleep disturbance.

After such symptoms are detected, a set of necessary tests usually follows, allowing to establish the correct diagnosis and begin treatment. In case of kidney inflammation, high-quality tests and timely diagnostics will help to successfully treat the disease.

Symptoms of inflammation of the right or left kidney

In fact, the symptoms of inflammation of the right or left kidney are similar to the symptoms of other diseases, such as biliary colic, intestinal disorders, and appendicitis attacks. Therefore, diagnosing inflammation of the right or left kidney is quite difficult even for specialists, not to mention the patient himself. The most common symptoms of kidney inflammation include increasing nagging pain in the left or right lower abdomen, pain in the lumbar region, increased sensitivity to palpation, increased body temperature accompanied by frequent profuse urination, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Very often, pain in the left or right kidney may indicate a disease not directly related to the kidneys. For timely diagnosis, if similar symptoms are present, a specialist consultation will help determine the cause of pain in the right kidney.