Pyelonephritis: causes, symptoms, treatment

During the cold season, in addition to standard colds, there is an exacerbation of existing diseases. Migraines begin to bother you, your blood pressure jumps, your joints hurt and pain occurs when urinating. This article will tell you what kind of disease pyelonephritis is, what types it is and how it can be treated.

What is pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is an acute infectious inflammation of the kidneys. It is associated with the pathogenic activity of bacteria entering the urinary tract from the lower parts of the urinary system. Mainly caused by the presence of E. coli in the urinary tract. Most often it occurs as a result of hypothermia.

The most common urological disease, occurs in 75% of patients.   Most often it affects females. Often, untreated cystitis develops into this form of the disease. This disease should not be underestimated, since neglect and attempts to suppress the symptoms can lead to renal failure, abscess or sepsis. It is especially dangerous for pregnant women and people with diabetes to develop this disease. Since in these cases the load on the kidneys is already increased, you should not aggravate this and force your body to work for wear.

Pyelonephritis - symptoms in women

This disease has 2 forms - acute and chronic. If an acute form has occurred, you should not lower your vigilance when the main symptoms disappear. The disease easily becomes chronic. In which the symptoms may not cause significant inconvenience, or disappear altogether.

You can recognize the occurrence of pyelonephritis in girls by the following signs:

1. Acute pain in the lumbar region, side or lower abdomen.
2. A sharp increase in temperature to 38-40 degrees.
3. General deterioration of health - weakness, nausea, vomiting, chills.
4. Change in urine color, cloudiness, impurities or blood stains. The appearance of a pungent odor from stool.
5. Sharp pain when urinating, making this process very difficult.
6. Frequent urge to urinate, but attempts to defecate are unsuccessful.
7. Swelling of the limbs.
8. Dehydration.
9. Heartbeat failure.
10. An increase in the number of leukocytes in the urine when passing OAM.
11. Enlargement of one kidney during examination using an ultrasound machine.

Before pyelonephritis develops, girls usually have symptoms of cystitis - pain and frequent urge to urinate, change in color of discharge.

Causes of pyelonephritis

The main causes of pyelonephritis are hypothermia and bacterial activity. Besides these reasons, there are others. Which cause disease less often, but you shouldn’t lose sight of them either.

Causes of pyelonephritis:

• repeated and not fully cured mild forms of diseases of the genitourinary system;
• untimely emptying of the bladder;
• decline in immunity due to existing diseases - HIV, diabetes, hypovitaminosis, stress;
• incorrect treatment of cystitis;
• pregnancy- fetal pressure on the kidneys;
• inflammatory processes in the body;
• blockage of the ureters with stones;
• structural features of the female body - short urethra;
• beginning of sexual activity.

This disease can also occur in an asymptomatic form. When pain appears, the kidneys are often already destroyed. Therefore, it is imperative to undergo a kidney examination once a year.

Preventive measures to detect pyelonephritis include:

1. Examination by a urologist.
2. Palpation of the abdomen and tapping of the back and lower back for pain.
3. Submitting urine for analysis - OAM, according to Zimnitsky, according to Nechiporenko.
4. Blood tests - general and biochemical.
5. Kidney ultrasound.

Chronic pyelonephritis

In the chronic form, the disease may be asymptomatic. That is, do not cause obvious discomfort to the patient. But when examined with an ultrasound machine, changes are noticeable in the renal pelvis, tubules and vessels of the kidneys.

In the chronic form of the disease, both kidneys are most often affected. While in acute cases there is only one. But we should not forget about possible seasonal exacerbations of a chronic disease. In this case, there may be no temperature. But there will definitely be aching pain in the lower abdomen and difficulty urinating.

Symptoms of the latent form of the disease:

• rare and mildly felt pain in the lower back or lower abdomen;
• almost imperceptible difficulty in emptying the bladder;
• in the evening the temperature may rise to 37.1;
• increased fatigue, weakness, drowsiness;
• decreased appetite;
• headaches;
• a feeling of heaviness in the lower back when standing for a long time;
• depression and apathy;
• the skin becomes dry, peels, changes color to yellow-gray;
• the appearance of dark plaque on the mucous membranes;
• constant dry mouth;
• pressure surges, often increases;
• increasing the amount of urine up to 3 liters per day;
• as a consequence of the previous point - pain in bones and joints. Since the necessary calcium is washed away.

Treatment of the chronic form of this disease includes an individual approach to each patient. And it must necessarily include a special diet and a set of measures that are aimed at eliminating the causes that impede the natural outflow of urine. Plus, of course, drug treatment of the problem and preventive therapy with diuretics.

Why is chronic pyelonephritis dangerous?

1. Shrinkage of the kidneys.
2. Kidney failure.
3. Slag retention.
4. Hypertension.
5. Heart failure.

Diet for kidney disease:

• complete exclusion of spicy and salty foods;
• avoidance of alcohol and excessive consumption of strong coffee;
• food should be light and low in calories;
• maximum calorie intake is 2500 per day for an adult;
• the most healthy and fortified food;
• large number dairy products in the diet;
• mandatory consumption of fish and seafood;
• the predominant amount in the diet of a patient with pyelonephritis should be steamed, stewed or boiled vegetables;
• if there are no problems with blood pressure, drink plenty of water, up to 3 liters per day;
• fruit drinks and compotes using natural antiseptics - cranberries, raspberries, strawberries;
• plenty of fresh seasonal fruit.

Acute pyelonephritis

If acute pyelonephritis is not cured within the first three months, the disease will become chronic.

The acute form of this disease can develop as a result of such diseases:

1. Flu.
2. Angina.
3. Caries and inflammation in the oral cavity.
4. Tonsillitis.
5. Bronchitis.
6. Scarlet fever.

Most often, the causative agents of acute pyelonephritis are bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The infection can spread in the following ways:

• Lymphogenic.
• Hematogenous. Infection occurs from any inflammatory process in the body. Tooth decay, inflamed tonsils or gallbladder
• Ascending. Occurs as a consequence of inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, as well as the presence of stones and sand in the kidneys. The most common method of occurrence of the disease.

If you have the following diseases, you are at risk for pyelonephritis:

1. Frequent allergies.
2. Regular weakening immunity.
3. Frequent colds.
4. Vitamin deficiency.
5. Pregnancy.
6. Diabetes mellitus.
7. Lower back injuries.

The recommended diet in this case is the same as for the chronic form of the disease. In case of acute pyelonephritis, the following foods should be completely excluded from the diet:

• fatty rich broths;
• radish, radish;
• horseradish;
• onions, garlic;
• legumes;
• white cabbage;
• strong coffee and tea;
• whole milk;
• sorrel, spinach;
• rye bread.

Pyelonephritis during pregnancy

This disease occurs for the first time in women during pregnancy and is quite rare. Only in 1-4% of cases. Most often, there is an exacerbation of a pre-existing disease.

In most cases, during pregnancy, this disease is associated with an increase in the size of the uterus. It begins to put pressure on all the woman’s internal organs. Including the kidneys. And makes it difficult for urine to pass through. In this case, the symptoms may not be as pronounced as during the normal course of pregnancy, or may be absent altogether. But, when analyzing the composition of urine and blood, an increased level of leukocytes and protein in the urine will be detected.

Hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother are a favorable background for the development of this disease. This impedes peristalsis of the ureters and impedes the movement of urine. As a result, a good soil for bacterial activity is created.

Often, as a consequence of pyelonephritis, pregnant women and women who have already given birth experience anemia and sepsis.  This disease during pregnancy affects women who neglect personal hygiene and women who already have 2 or more children.

Kidney disease is not something that can be put off “for later.” Especially during pregnancy. Therefore, self-medication in this case is simply out of the question. Be sure to tell your doctor about the symptoms that bother you and undergo a complete medical examination of the genitourinary system. Treatment with traditional medicine should also be agreed with your doctor. Not all herbs are approved for use during pregnancy.

As a rule, a specialist is required to prescribe the use of antibiotics to stop the development of the inflammatory process. There are a number of drugs approved for use during pregnancy. For example, Ampicillin, Oxacillin.

It is prohibited to use products containing such substances as:

1. Biseptol.
2. Levomitecin.
3. Tetracycline.
4. Furazolidone.

Also, without fail, antispasmodics and painkillers are prescribed for high-quality treatment of kidney disease. During pregnancy, No-shpa is allowed to be used. It is mandatory to prescribe a vitamin complex. But therapy with diuretics is carried out strictly in a hospital, under the constant supervision of a doctor. The patient is recommended complete rest and bed rest. But you shouldn’t forget about the benefits of walking during pregnancy. Do not allow blood to stagnate in the pelvic organs. This threatens the fetus with hypoxia.

Don't neglect your diet. It is possible to carry out “positional” therapy. The patient is placed on a special table. The expectant mother should assume the fetal position, bringing her knees to her chest as much as possible. After which special mechanisms raise the table in such a position that the legs are higher than the head. In this situation, the pressure of the uterus on the kidneys decreases.

Why is pyelonephritis dangerous?

If this disease is neglected, it can lead to serious health problems. This disease leads to a decrease in the surface of the working kidney tissue. Consequently, the kidney will not be able to perform its functions of filtering blood. This means that toxins and harmful substances will begin to accumulate in the body, and intoxication may occur. A gradual decrease in working tissue can lead to kidney failure. In this case, an organ transplant may be required. Or constant blood filtration using special equipment.

Pyelonephritis treatment

Since this disease is an inflammatory process, it cannot be avoided without the use of antibiotics. A specialist will determine which drug is needed in your particular case of the disease. After a full examination and passing all the necessary tests. It is strongly recommended to combine the use of antibacterial agents with drugs that restore beneficial intestinal microflora. Otherwise, you can cure the kidneys, but ruin the intestines and even the stomach.

For high-quality treatment of this problem, a set of therapeutic measures is required. That is, taking medications alone will not be enough. Be sure to follow a strict diet and minimize salt intake. But, if there is no increase in blood pressure, you should not completely give up salt.

The patient is also shown complete rest. At least for the duration of acute pain and high fever.

Traditional treatment of pyelonephritis

Traditional medicine offers a wide selection of diuretic herbs that have anti-inflammatory properties. For example:

• orthosiphon;
• bearberry;
• horsetail;
• strawberry leaves;
• bay leaf;
• wild apples;
• corn silk;
• rose hip;
• birch buds;
• parsley root.

Brew the above herbs with boiling water, let it brew and take 1-2 tablespoons 3 times a day, before meals.

A mixture for rubbing the lower back made from kefir and fir oil received good reviews. Proportion 3:1. The course of treatment is one month.

Prevention of pyelonephritis

To prevent the development of the disease in the future, follow the following rules:

• prevent hypothermia of the body;
• promptly and efficiently treat any inflammatory processes in the body - colds, toothache;
• do not forget to go to the toilet during time;
• carefully perform genital hygiene;
• avoid unprotected sexual intercourse;
• give up bad habits and abuse of salty and spicy foods;
• completely switch to proper nutrition, eliminate soda, mayonnaise, and processed foods;
• drink at least 2-2.5 liters of liquid per day - clean water, tea, juice, compote.