What is Kidney Inflammation (Pyelonephritis) and What Precautions Should Be Taken?

The condition we call “kidney inflammation” or “kidney infection” is a type of urinary tract infection.

The condition we call “kidney inflammation” or “kidney infection” is a type of urinary tract infection. Kidney infection is medically defined as “pyelonephritis”. To get detailed information about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment methods of kidney inflammation, you can read the rest of the article prepared by our Associate Professor Enes Murat Atasoyu.

WHAT IS KIDNEY INFLAMMATION (PYELONEPHRITIS)?

What is kidney inflammation?

The condition we call “kidney inflammation” or “kidney infection” is a type of urinary tract infection. Kidney infection is medically defined as “pyelonephritis”.

What kind of symptoms does it give?

• Pain: It may be in the form of side pain or abdominal pain on the affected kidney side
• Urine changes: Cloudy, foul-smelling, or bloody urine
• Burning, pain while urinating
• High fever
• chills, shivering
• Nausea, vomiting

Do symptoms appear suddenly?

Most kidney infections first begin in the lower part of the urinary tract, namely the bladder or urethra. Then the infection progresses upward and infection also develops in the kidney. Therefore, at the beginning of the disease, symptoms such as frequent urination, odor in the urine, weakness, and pain in the groin are observed. If left untreated at this stage, the infection will progress upwards towards the kidney, leading to the development of a more severe condition.

What are the reasons?

Infection agents are usually bacteria and viruses. Most of the bacteria that cause kidney infection are microorganisms that are found in the intestines and help digestion. Untreated genital infections, especially in women, can also pass into the urinary tract through the neighborhood and cause the development of infection.

Vesicoureteral reflux (an anomaly that causes the urine in the bladder to leak back towards the kidneys), kidney stones, people with congenital anomalies in their kidneys (such as horseshoe kidney, underdeveloped small kidney, polycystic kidney), people who drink little water, suffer from constipation, hold their urine (do not like to go to the toilet) have kidney stones. There is a high risk of developing infection.

What happens if it is not treated?

If kidney infections are left untreated, they can cause serious conditions such as kidney damage, kidney abscess, kidney failure, sepsis (transmission of infection into the blood) and hypertension.

When should you go to the doctor?

It is necessary to consult a doctor when complaints such as burning sensation while urinating, pain, cloudy, foul-smelling urine, abdominal pain, pain in the kidney area, feeling of pressure in the bladder, pain in the groin, and high fever occur.

How is the diagnosis made?

Diagnosis is made by blood test, urine test, urine culture-antibiogram test, ultrasonography of the kidneys and urinary tract, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

How is it treated?

Depending on the severity of the disease, the patient is monitored as an outpatient or hospitalized. Appropriate antibiotic treatment and fluid support are applied.

Assoc. Dr. Enes Murat Atasoyu listed 7 simple precautions to be taken for kidney health as follows:

Make sure you drink enough fluids.

According to Australian and Canadian researchers, adequate fluid consumption reduces the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. According to traditional scientific opinion, consuming 1.5-2 liters of water daily is ideal for your health, but consult your doctor for the most accurate amount.

Adopt an active life.

By doing exercises such as walking, jogging and cycling regularly, you can have a fit body and lose excess weight, if you have any.

Check your blood sugar regularly.

Diabetes is in the first place among the diseases that cause chronic kidney disease. Kidney damage due to diabetes (diabetic nephropathy) can be reversed or its rate can be slowed down thanks to the treatments applied after early diagnosis.

Have your blood pressure measured.

Hypertension can be a factor leading to chronic kidney disease, or it can develop as a result of kidney disease, and as blood pressure remains high, the progression of the disease accelerates.

Pay attention to salt consumption and healthy nutrition.

The World Health Organization recommends 5 grams of salt per day. He says it is. However, the average daily salt consumption in our country is 18 grams. is around. Do not keep salt shakers on your dining tables and flavor your meals with spices and herbs (mint, thyme, etc.).

Stay away from tobacco products.

Smoking causes a decrease in renal blood flow. Thus, the kidneys cannot filter sufficiently and waste materials accumulate in the body. People who smoke also have an increased risk of developing kidney cancer: 50 percent.

Do not use random drugs.

Do not use painkillers without a doctor’s prescription. These drugs can cause kidney damage, sometimes depending on the dose and duration of use, and sometimes independently.