Back pain for every third person in the world is not new. Often at the end of the working day or after physical exertion, the back is pulled in the lumbar region. But a similar sign can be observed in the morning. Perhaps he points to diseases of the back, or maybe kidneys. It is not immediately possible to determine by pulling pain and discomfort during urination that these are symptoms of pyelonephritis. Consider the causes and symptoms of this disease.
Pyelonephritis: what is this disease?
Symptoms of pyelonephritis are observed when an infection begins to develop, the provocateurs of which are bacteria. Patients may experience an acute or chronic form of the disease. More patients suffer from pyelonephritis. The disease can affect only one kidney or both at once. The chronic form often has no or no symptoms, so patients do not consider their condition serious and do not complete the full course of treatment.
But it is better to consult a nephrologist at the first sign (it is he who deals with the treatment of the genitourinary system) in order to prevent complications such as kidney failure, carbuncle and others.
What happens in the body during pyelonephritis?
Pyelonephritis occurs and develops at the moment when immunobiological activity weakens. Reduced resistance to infection. The reasons may be overwork, illnesses suffered in the past, hypovitaminosis, hypothermia, disturbances in the blood flow, chronic pathologies and others. Also, massive infection can become predisposing to the development of pyelonephritis. Symptoms and treatment in women, men and children may be similar or radically different, it all depends on the characteristics of the organism and the causes that led to the development of the disease.
Failures in the outflow of urine with subsequent narrowing or bending of the ureter, pressure on the urinary tract from the outside, nephroptosis, anomalies of the urinary tract are the main factors suggesting the development of the disease.
Provoke the development of pyelonephritis can:
- gout;
- diabetes mellitus;
- lack of potassium;
- nephrocalcinosis;
- long-term use of analgesics;
- inflammatory processes outside the kidneys: enteritis, suppuration, pneumonia, frequent colds;
- inflammation affecting the urogenital area: adnexitis, cystitis, prostatitis, vulvovaginitis and others.
In the development of the disease, a violation of venous and lymphatic outflow from the kidney plays an important role, which contributes to the rapid development of infection in it.
Thanks to a unique technique - urocinema - today, already at the initial stage, one can notice serious changes in the urodynamics of the ureter, when there are still no organic changes. There are four main ways infection enters the kidney:
- hematogenous;
- lymphogenic;
- along the wall of the ureter;
- on the ureteral lumen if vesicoureteral reflux is present.
To help in this difficult situation, you need to consider in detail the symptoms and causes of pyelonephritis in women. However, treatment should only be prescribed by a specialist.
The disease can present at any age, but is most common in children under 7, young women aged 18-30, and older men.
Causes of pyelonephritis in children
It can be difficult to determine the symptoms of pyelonephritis in infants, because he still cannot tell about his condition on his own. But parents should not rule out this pathology if the baby cries often - and especially during urination. The causes of the development of the disease in a child may be such factors:
- mother's illness during childbearing;
- anomalies in the development of the genitourinary system;
- frequent catarrhal pathologies;
- failures in the body's metabolic processes;
- poor social conditions;
- infections affecting the children's body;
- gynecological ailments in girls.
Provoke the development of the disease and symptoms of pyelonephritis in children under one year old can be the activity of Escherichia coli. Pathogenic organisms enter the kidney through the ureters or with blood that has passed through foci of infection in other organs. infectious focusmay be tonsillitis, otitis media, pneumonia or pyoderma.
Types of pyelonephritis
Classifies pyelonephritis as follows:
- by occurrence: primary or secondary;
- along the pathways of infection: ascending - from the urethra to the kidneys through the urinary canal, descending - through the bloodstream or lymphatic system;
- according to the degree of patency of the urinary tract: obstructive and non-obstructive.
- by location: two-sided or one-sided;
- downstream: acute or chronic;
- according to the results: complete recovery, the transition of the disease to a chronic form, the development of pyonephrosis.
Before considering the symptoms of pyelonephritis in children and adults, it must also be said that doctors divide the acute form of the disease into several more types:
- serous;
- purulent: focal infiltrative, diffuse infiltrative, diffuse with abscesses;
- with mesenchymal reaction.
Chronic form is of several types:
- asymptomatic,
- latent,
- anemic,
- azometic,
- hypertensive,
- remission.
Symptomatics of pyelonephritis in adults
The main symptom of pyelonephritis (acute form) is a sharp increase in body temperature up to 39-40 °C. Hyperthermia accompanied by:
- excessive sweating,
- loss of appetite,
- general weakness,
- headaches,
- nausea and vomiting.
There may be dull pain in the lumbar region, most often on one side. The physical method of examination, which involves gentle tapping on the lower back, reveals soreness. The uncomplicated acute form may not cause urination problems, but the urine becomes cloudy with a reddish tint. Laboratory examination may reveal bacteriuria, mild proteinuria, and microhematuria. A complete blood count shows a high level of leukocytes and ESR.
The chronic form is most often the outcome of an undertreated acute process. Sometimes it can be found by chance during a urine test. Patients with the chronic form complain of the following symptoms of pyelonephritis:
- weakness all over the body;
- loss of appetite;
- frequent urination;
- headaches;
- discomfort in the lumbar region, worse in cold weather.
You can't ignore such body signals. It is urgent to seek qualified help from a specialist if the first symptoms of pyelonephritis in women appear. Causes - and treatment, respectively - may be different. Medicines are prescribed individually for each patient after a comprehensive examination.
Symptoms in pregnancy
Often, women feel discomfort in the kidney area when urinating while carrying a baby. During this period, the right kidney is most often affected. The causative agent of pyelonephritis in most cases is Escherichia coli, but there may be such microorganisms: Klebsiella, Enterococcus and Proteus. They are 70% of the timecause illness. Rarely, inflammation, namely this is the main symptom of kidney pyelonephritis in women during pregnancy, is provoked by staphylococci or Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
In the acute phase, the following manifestations are observed:
- general he alth deteriorates sharply;
- temperature rises sharply to high levels;
- weakness and lethargy occur;
- patient complains of headache and chills;
- there is a plaque on the tongue;
- loss of appetite;
- pain in the lumbar region, radiating to the thigh.
In the chronic form, the symptoms of pyelonephritis in pregnant women are not so pronounced. Most often, complaints are received on aching and dull pain in the lower back. Frequent headaches, lethargy, weakness, drowsiness are a number of other signs of kidney malfunction.
During the period of bearing a baby, it is important for any woman to listen to the signals of her body, because complications from inactivity can adversely affect the he alth of both mother and child. At the first symptoms, it is better to consult a doctor.
Manifestation of disease in children
Symptoms of pyelonephritis in children are manifested in the form of general signs, which often occur with infectious diseases, as well as local renal manifestations. In the secondary form, the symptoms are more pronounced because there is urinary retention. The primary form is distinguished by the dominance of symptoms of intoxication, but there are no pronounced signs of kidney damage. In children, the infection mostly affects onekidney and only in 3% of cases the disease can be bilateral.
Inflammation in babies is open and bright when compared with older patients. The disease develops rapidly, the temperature rises sharply, chills appear. Other signs also appear:
- nausea,
- vomit,
- sweating,
- diarrhea,
- dehydration,
- Nuchal muscle tension in infants.
Feeling and light tapping in the area of pain localization causes unpleasant painful sensations in the child. If no measures are taken and treatment is not started, then the entire lumbar region begins to hurt. There is anxiety when urinating. Urine becomes cloudy.
Complications
If you do not pay attention to the signals that the body gives in the form of symptoms, and the treatment of pyelonephritis is not started on time, then you can end up with kidney failure. But there is no way to cure her. In addition, inactivity can lead to sepsis and bacterial shock.
In rare cases, the acute form can be complicated by paranephritis or the development of apostematous pyelonephritis, when a large number of small pustules form on the surface of the kidney. There are other complications:
- kidney carbuncle,
- abscess,
- necrosis of renal papillae.
If purulent-diffuse changes are detected during the examination, it is recommended to perform surgical intervention. If for any reason the signs and symptomspyelonephritis of a purulent-destructive form is ignored, then the terminal stage begins, which leads to the development of pyonephrosis. It is he who exposes the kidney to purulent fusion and is a focus consisting of cavities inside which urine, pus and tissue decay products are collected.
What diagnostic methods will help to make a diagnosis?
We examined what symptoms of pyelonephritis should prompt the patient to seek qualified help. But now it is important to know what methods will help to accurately diagnose and select therapy.
Confirming the presence of an ailment in an acute form for a nephrologist is not difficult, because the clinic is pronounced. If you look at the patient's history, you can find records of chronic pathologies or recent purulent processes in it. The clinic is formed by severe hyperthermia with pain in the lumbar region, discomfort during urination and changes in urine. It becomes cloudy or acquires a reddish tint, has a pronounced unpleasant odor.
The following studies are also underway:
- Laboratory analysis can detect microorganisms and protein in urine; to identify the pathogen, a urine culture is performed.
- The presence of inflammation in the body will confirm the blood test, in which leukocytes and ESR will be elevated.
- Urography allows you to determine how much the volume of the kidney is enlarged.
- Excretory urography tells about a sharp limitation of the mobility of an organ during an orthoprobe.
- Structural change helpsreveal ultrasound of the kidneys.
- The concentration ability of an organ is assessed using the Zimnitsky test.
- To exclude urolithiasis and anatomical abnormalities, a CT scan is recommended.
Traditional treatments
The uncomplicated form is accompanied by pronounced symptoms. Treatment of acute pyelonephritis in women is carried out conservatively in the hospital department. Antibacterial therapy is applied. Medicines are selected taking into account which bacteria were identified in the study of urine. To quickly remove all inflammatory processes and prevent the transition of the disease into a purulent-destructive form, treatment begins with the most effective remedy.
Detoxification treatment is selected, immunity is corrected. A low-protein diet is recommended for fever. After the temperature returns to normal, the patient is transferred to a full diet, but with low fluid intake.
Difficulty in the outflow of urine is one of the common symptoms of kidney pyelonephritis. Treatment is based on removing obstructions to normal outflow. Antibacterial agents with a disturbed passage do not give the desired result, but, on the contrary, lead to the development of complications.
Chronic pyelonephritis is treated by the same methods as the acute form, but differs in duration and complexity. Therapy includes:
- correct installation of the type, causes and symptoms of pyelonephritis; treatment is aimed at removing obstructions of difficulty urinating and impaired renal function.circulation;
- selection of antibacterial drugs if bacteria were detected in the urine;
- normalization of the immune system.
If there are obstructions in the outflow, then you need to normalize the passage of urine. It can be restored in an operative way: nephropexy with nephroptosis, removal of stones or prostate adenoma, and others. As practice shows, it is only necessary to remove the obstacle that interferes with the passage, as it is possible to achieve a stable and long-term remission.
Antibacterial agents are prescribed taking into account the data shown by the antibiogram, but broad-spectrum drugs are most often recommended.
The chronic form requires long-term systematic treatment. First, antibacterial drugs are taken continuously for two months. This technique helps to eliminate the purulent process in the kidney and prevents the development of complications and the formation of scar tissue.
If kidney function is impaired, then the patient needs a constant intake of nephrotoxic antibacterial drugs. Immunostimulants and immunomodulators are used to correct immunity. After the onset of remission, it is recommended to take antibacterial drugs in courses.
Patients with a chronic form during the period of remission are recommended sanatorium treatment, and one should not forget about the constant continuity of therapy. The treatment started in the hospital should continue at home, constant monitoring by the doctor and adjustment of therapy is necessary. As an additional method,use folk remedies if symptoms are too severe.
Treatment of pyelonephritis with folk remedies
Symptoms of pyelonephritis in women, men and children can also be treated with decoctions and infusions of medicinal herbs, but after consulting a doctor. This is especially important for pregnant women who are also responsible for their unborn baby. It is recommended to use the following tools:
- Fat girl. It copes well with inflammation, normalizes the work of the kidneys, improves urination, inhibits the vital activity of pathogens, removes toxins. But it is worth remembering that it is categorically contraindicated for pregnant women, as well as for people with exacerbated diseases of the stomach and intestines. Preparing a decoction is simple: at night you need to pour one tablespoon of herbs with a glass of boiling water, leave until morning, strain and take two tablespoons three times a day before meals. The course lasts at least a month.
- Cornflower open. It perfectly relieves pain, and also allows you to speed up recovery and improve the functioning of the genitourinary system. To prepare a medicinal decoction, take a pinch of dry grass, pour boiling water (250 ml) and boil for 2-3 minutes. Next, turn off the fire and cover the grass with a lid, leave for about half an hour. The broth should be filtered and drunk three times before meals. The course of therapy lasts a month, then a 30-day break is needed.
- Cranberries. For those who suffer from pyelonephritis, it is very useful to take cranberry juice, which not only improves the condition of the body, but also restores immunity. You need to squeeze the juice from a glass of cranberries and add 500 ml of boiling water,boil for 5 minutes, cool, take a glass a day.
- Birch sap. If taken undiluted, it reduces the population of bacteria, restores immunity. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it must be taken on an empty stomach every morning, one glass.
- Hibiscus. This type of tea can be purchased at any grocery store. But you need to drink it cold, for this one teaspoon of raw materials is poured into a glass of cold water, left for an hour, and then drunk. Drinking cold helps lower blood pressure.
- Kidney collection 1. You need to mix chamomile, cornflower, corn silk, nettle, lingonberry leaves, coltsfoot, sage and veronica. Take two tablespoons of raw materials, pour a liter of boiling water, leave for 12 hours, strain and take a glass before eating.
- Kidney collection 2. You need to take in equal parts strawberry leaves, lingonberry leaves and berries, corn stigmas, wild rose, currant, bearberry, birch leaves and flaxseed. Pour a liter of boiling water over one spoonful of the mixture, leave for an hour, strain and take half a glass three times a day after meals.
Both kidney collections are best alternated with periodic breaks. Some of the ingredients have a diuretic effect, so you will have to go to the toilet more often. Freshly squeezed juices from blueberries, strawberries, pumpkins, cranberries, melons and carrots work well for the symptoms of pyelonephritis in women. Treatment with folk remedies and traditional therapy give excellent results.
Preventive methods
To prevent pyelonephritis, you need to treat the underlying diseases that provoke its development in time. The following pathologies can cause an exacerbation:
- urolithiasis;
- prostate adenoma;
- diseases accompanied by urinary outflow disorders.
Pregnant women with multiple pregnancies, polyhydramnios, large fetuses, and narrow pelvises are advised to have a urinalysis and urodynamic study every month.
Therapeutic exercise for pyelonephritis will not give the desired results. Pain in the lumbar region will not allow you to perform exercises efficiently and will bring even more discomfort to the patient.
Kidney he alth is directly related to the state of the whole organism. Treat any infectious pathologies in a timely manner, balance the diet, take vitamins and lead a he althy lifestyle. This is the only way to prevent the development of serious violations in the work of this important organ.
