What is Nephritis? Causes of Nephritis
February 4, 2021 Lifestyle Diseases 742 ViewsWhat is Nephritis?
Nephritis is a medical condition characterized by inflammation in the kidneys. The human body has two kidneys; situated on both the right and left sides. The kidney performs the vital function of flushing out waste products and excess fluids from our body. If there is any problem in the kidney, then they become inflamed. Nephritis does not allow the kidney to filter the blood completely. Apart from this, some other symptoms such as fever, nausea, blood in urine and vomiting, may also occur. If proper care of the kidneys is taken, then the problem of inflammation never occurs. Although to avoid nephritis, people should consume more water and fluids, do some physical activity in the morning and avoid alcohol and smoking. If there is any abnormality in the person’s kidney, then a medical diagnosis and treatment should be done without any delay to prevent the risk of serious diseases. Some patients do not get treatment on time, due to which the doctor has to perform kidney dialysis. If the kidney function is severely impaired, then a transplant is required. Let us tell you about Causes of Nephritis or kidney inflammation in today’s article.
- Causes of Nephritis
- Symptoms of Nephritis
- Diagnosis of Nephritis
- Treatments of Nephritis
Causes of Nephritis
There can be many reasons responsible for kidney inflammation.
- If a person has already undergone any kidney treatment, then the chances of swelling in the kidney are high.
- The deficiency of potassium in the blood can cause kidney inflammation.
- If a drug reaction occurs, it directly affects the kidneys because the blood contains antibodies to remove the allergen or infection. Sometimes these antibodies attack the kidney tissues, due to which inflammation occurs in the kidneys.
- Kidney stones may cause swelling in the kidneys.
- If a kidney disease occurs in a person, then other members of his family may also be at risk of developing kidney disease.
- Kidney inflammation may occur due to severe bacterial infection. (Read more – What is a kidney stone and what are its causes?)
Risk factors –
- Diabetes
- Excessive consumption of pain killers
- Obesity (Read more – What is the treatment of obesity?)
- Immunity related problem
- Having heart disease
- Age more than 60 years
- Family history of kidney disease
Symptoms of Nephritis
Usually, there are no symptoms in the initial stages of nephritis. If you experience any problem in the kidneys, then get it examined by a doctor, although there may be some signs and symptoms of nephritis.
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Pus in the urine
- Moisture in the skin
- Fever
- Skin rash
- Weak mental state
- Noticeable changes in urine color
- Blood in urine
- Vomiting and nausea
- Increased BP
- Increased body weight without any reason
- Pain around kidneys
- Apart from kidneys, swelling may occur in other body parts, such as hands or feet. (Read more – Home Remedies to Cure Sprains)
Diagnosis of Nephritis
For the diagnosis of nephritis, the doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history and do a physical examination of the kidneys to check whether the kidney inflammation is mild or severe. During diagnosis, the doctor may perform some tests to check the patient’s BP, protein content in urine, and blood tests. Apart from this, the doctor may advise some of the following investigations.
- Kidney biopsy
- Lab Test
- Ultrasound
- CT Scan
Treatment of Nephritis
The treatment of nephritis depends on its stage and type. Kidney problems may be chronic in some people, while in others, it may occur due to other diseases.
- First, the doctor prescribes some medicines to reduce the inflammation in the kidney. These medicines protect the kidney by reducing the risk of infection. It may be given through an injection in the veins, while some tablets are also available.
- If the kidney function has deteriorated due to infection, then the doctor recommends kidney dialysis, which helps in filtering the blood and removing excess toxins. (Read more – Why is dialysis done?)
- Some supplements are suggested to repair the kidney and prevent any further damage. These supplements include sodium, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. It increases the level of electrolytes, and if its level decreases, then potassium and phosphorus supplements are given.
- If there is a lack of water in the patient’s body, then he is advised to drink more water. Apart from this, more fluids should be consumed so that bacteria can be flushed out through urine.
We hope your question, what is nephritis, has been answered through this article.
If you experience any kidney-related problem, then you can contact a good Nephrologist.
We only aim to give you information through the article. We do not recommend medication or treatment in any way. Only a doctor can give you good advice because no one else is better than them.
