Pyelonephritis is an inflammatory disease of the kidneys, in which all the constituent elements of the organ are affected: parenchyma, calyces, pelvis, tubules. The disease has an infectious nature of origin. The inflammatory process is caused by Escherichia or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, staphylococci and other microorganisms. There are several options for the course of the disease - acute or chronic, unilateral or bilateral. Specialists of the K+31 clinic are well aware of what pyelonephritis is, how to quickly and effectively help the patient cope with any variant of its development.
Inflammation of the kidneys: causes and risk factors
The main reason for the development of pyelonephritis is an infectious lesion of the kidney tissue by pathogens. The infection enters through the ureters that leave the bladder, or spreads from other parts of the body along with the blood or lymph.
The spread of bacterial microflora can occur in the following situations:
- violation of the outflow of urine, which occurs due to anomalies in the structure of the ureters (due to congenital pathology or complications during surgical interventions);
- Urolithiasis;
- inflammatory processes on the organs located in the small pelvis;
- squeezing of the ureters as a result of the growth of prostate tissue;
- decrease in the body's immune defenses;
- endocrine disorders, including diabetes mellitus;
- Obstruction of the normal outflow of urine in women during pregnancy, which occurs due to a greatly enlarged uterus;
- the presence of various formations in the kidney area;
- hypothermia of the body.
Inflammation of the kidney tissue is more often diagnosed in women. This is due to the specifics of the structure of their genitourinary system - a shorter urethra contributes to the rapid spread of infection. Pyelonephritis in men, the symptoms of which are rather unpleasant, is more often diagnosed at an older age due to impaired urodynamics.
Pyelonephritis symptoms in men and women
Signs of the disease are more dependent on its form. Acute inflammation is accompanied by pronounced palpable symptoms that appear suddenly. In the chronic course of the disease, the clinical picture is erased.
Acute pyelonephritis
The disease is developing rapidly and poses a danger to human life. It is characterized by purulent-serous inflammation in the renal tissue, which provokes severe intoxication.
Characteristic features:
- severe back pain, most often in the lumbar region;
- heat - up to 40℃;
- chills;
- excessive sweating;
- prostration;
- headache;
- nausea turning into vomiting;
- cloudy and dark urine;
- thirst;
- bloating;
- painful and frequent urination (when the infection spreads to the bladder).
In the absence of adequate treatment, a picture of infectious-toxic shock develops quite quickly. It is accompanied by a sharp drop in blood pressure, tachycardia, pallor of the skin. The reason for this phenomenon is that a quarter of all blood circulating in the body passes through the kidneys. Therefore, the infection spreads to other organs without problems.
Chronic pyelonephritis: symptoms
The disease is often asymptomatic. It is detected by chance, during the study of the body with suspicion of other pathological conditions.
Manifestations of the disease are nonspecific:
- weakness;
- appetite reduction;
- increased fatigue;
- migraine;
- non-intense dull pain in the lower back;
- frequent urination;
- subfebrile condition.
During the period of exacerbation, these symptoms are most intense, with the onset of remission, everything subsides. But the periodic activation of inflammation provokes scarring of the tissues of the kidneys. Ultimately, this leads to the fact that the body ceases to fully perform its functions.
Diagnosis
If you suspect pyelonephritis, you should contact a urologist or nephrologist. The doctor examines the patient, asks him about the symptoms and lifestyle, past diseases.
A number of studies are prescribed to make an accurate diagnosis:
- Common urinalysis. In the presence of an acute inflammatory process, an increase in leukocytes is detected.
- Urine analysis according to Nechiporenko. The degree of kidney damage and possible complications are determined.
- Bacteriological examination of urine. It makes it possible to identify the causative agent of the disease and select an effective drug for treatment.
- CBC and biochemistry. According to their indicators, an inflammatory process can be detected in the body.
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and organs of the genitourinary system. Swelling of the parenchyma and negative tissue changes are diagnosed.
- Dopplerography. With pyelonephritis, blood flow will be impaired.
Blood and urine tests are not the only diagnostic methods. If necessary, doctors prescribe such instrumental studies as urography, MRI, CT of the urinary tract, and others.
