Proper and timely treatment of pyelonephritis prevents the development of impaired functioning of the urinary system. The disease is caused by the spread of an infection that affects one or both kidneys of a person.

What is pyelonephritis

The most common urinary tract disease caused by infectious inflammation. If it is started, the lesions affect the renal vessels and glomeruli. In this case, there is a violation of the filtering and excretory ability of the organ. As a result of the studies, experts divided the pathology into chronic and acute forms.

Causes of the disease

There is no common pathogen due to which the development of pathology occurs. But there is a single reason. It is considered the ingress of infectious microflora into the renal pelvis. This process is almost never independent. It usually develops from primary infections.

There are several age and other features leading to the development of the disease:

  • Children under 7 years of age are susceptible to pathology due to insufficiently developed immunity and structural features of the urination system.
  • Women get sick almost 5 times more often than men. The disease proceeds in a severe form, especially in girls and elderly ladies who have entered the post-menopausal stage.
  • Urogenital infections are the most common cause related to gender. Women more often suffer from cystitis - this is the cause of frequent complications.
  • In men, pyelonephritis usually appears after 45 years, which is caused by prostatitis.
  • In youth, the symptoms of pyelonephritis in women appear when they begin sexual activity and do not comply with hygiene rules. The causative agents of genital infections enter the bladder, and from there they spread further.

Pregnant women are a special risk group. Pathology can lead to fetal death and serious complications for a woman.

Any factors that interfere with the excretion of urine from the body can provoke the development of kidney inflammation. Stagnation leads to an increase in the number of pathogenic microflora and inflammation of various severity.

Overcooling is not infrequently the direct cause, which leads to a malfunction of the body's protective function. This is very dangerous for girls. Often, an initial attack of acute pyelonephritis develops due to wet feet or bathing in cold water and can affect both or one kidney.

There are also chronic diseases that contribute to the development of infections:

  • kidney failure;
  • any immunodeficiencies;
  • diabetes;
  • abdominal injuries.

Remember, the disease can develop due to any chronic infections, regardless of the location of the focus.

Pyelonephritis can even become a complication of sinusitis or tonsillitis.

Classification

Experts classify pathology according to the forms and characteristics of the course, which depend on the infection and the ways it appears:

  • Primary. The kidneys are in good condition. Nothing prevents them from performing functions. Fluid is excreted in the normal mode. The disease manifests itself in healthy before this patients and in children
  • Secondary. It is caused by existing pathologies: congenital anomalies, urolithiasis, prolapse of excretory organs. In this condition, urinary excretion occurs, which aggravates the patient's condition.
  • Acute. It usually develops in combination with the primary. A pronounced clinical picture has characteristic signs. It proceeds rapidly, has a varying degree of severity, which is due to age, the state of immunity.
  • Chronic. It is characterized by the presence of a permanent infectious focus located inside the pelvis. Sometimes it does not appear, but remains background. Exacerbation can occur due to hypothermia, violation of the drinking regimen, other changes in the patient’s lifestyle. It is dangerous to change the structure of the kidney tissue. Contributes to a general deterioration in health.
  • Unilateral. A common variety in which only one of the kidneys is affected.
  • Bilateral. A rarer form is when the infection has spread to both organs. The clinical picture is rather difficult, the prognosis is significantly worse than with a unilateral form.

A nonspecific reaction to pathogenic microflora can lead to the development of such a rare variety as xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. This form of the disease leads to an increase in kidney size due to the strong increase in the number of macrophages and cholesterol cells. The process leads to the formation of adhesions and fibrosis. You can identify it using ultrasound. The affected tissue has a characteristic yellowish tint.

Aposthematous nephritis is the most dangerous form. It is characterized by the appearance of carbuncles and small abscesses in places of inflammation. A favorable course does not allow the affected tissues to fully recover. Their place is taken by replacement tissue. The kidneys do not function 100%.

Their wrinkling is not uncommon, caused by atrophic changes in the parenchyma. This is a malignant form of pyelonephritis. It is characteristic of young children, the elderly. Possible organ failure.

Symptoms of pathology in women, men and children

The acute form differs from chronic in more pronounced symptoms. But she does not appear without a preliminary phase.

Do not miss the first signs:

  • The appearance of lumbar pain. Their intensity is associated with the severity of the pathology.In the absence of urinary obstruction, the pain is tolerable, dull, aching. Sharp pain is characteristic of obstructive varieties.
  • Temperature rise. Up to 40 ° C in children, up to 38 - 39 ° C in adults.
  • Lack of appetite, poor health, weakness.
  • Pain during urination, but this does not always happen. Often pain occurs with a complication caused by prostatitis or cystitis.
  • Nausea, vomiting.
  • In the treatment of pyelonephritis in children, the main thing is to correctly diagnose. Toddlers often complain of pain in the abdomen, and this causes difficulties in making a differential diagnosis.
  • Difficulty with urination indicates inflammation of the excretory tract. Impurities of pus make the urine cloudy or whitish. Impurities of blood in it indicate a severe damage to the kidneys.

Acute pyelonephritis in older people and in children sometimes leads to a decrease in renal function, their failure and death. Often you can recover, although not completely.

The chronic form is characterized by:

  • frequent urination
  • mild pain in the lower back;
  • increase in blood pressure.

Relapses are repeated several times a year. This provokes the replacement of renal connective tissue. The body loses the ability to perform its functions normally. For this reason, the chronic form cannot be ignored.

Diagnostic measures

If there is a suspicion of inflammatory kidney disease, consult a doctor. He will collect an anamnesis and prescribe diagnostic measures, after which he will make a diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Diagnostics usually include:

  • specific tests of urine and blood;
  • Bakseeding of kidney products;
  • Ultrasound of the investigated organs and others located nearby in the abdominal cavity;
  • CT scan or X-ray examination, which helps to identify changes in the structure of renal tissue.

Traditional treatments

It is necessary to treat pathology in a comprehensive manner. Therapy involves the use of antibacterial drugs for the treatment of pyelonephritis and measures to eliminate the cause of the development of pathology.

  • Antibiotics quickly fight bacteria, stopping the course of the inflammatory process. But it can resume shortly after drug withdrawal, if the cause is not eliminated. After several relapses, the microflora acquires resistance to the drugs used.
  • Along with antibiotics, diuretics are prescribed to remove excess fluid. It is important that in acute form, on the contrary, they are not prescribed.
  • Immunomodulators. Indicated to enhance immunity and prevent exacerbation of a chronic disease.
  • Multivitamins - to increase the protective function of the body.
  • NSAIDs - for the fight against inflammatory processes.

How to treat pyelonephritis folk remedies

Traditional medicine prescriptions are treated with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and general strengthening agents. This is necessary to relieve signs of intoxication and support the patient's immunity. During treatment, you need to follow a special diet and drink enough water. Drink at least 2 - 2.5 liters of water per day.

You also need to take into account the patient's reaction to the used decoctions and other means. He should be allergic to drug components.

As such funds, you can use:

  • lingonberry - leaves and berries are good, have antibacterial, diuretic, anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory effects;
  • bearberry - wonderful for treatment and prevention, a natural antibiotic with a diuretic property;
  • St. John's wort - has a bactericidal, anti-inflammatory property, eliminates vascular spasms, increases diuresis, has long been considered a reliable tool against infections of the urinary system;
  • propolis and bee morbidity - effectively fight streptococci, mycoplasma, ureplasma and various parasites, relieve inflammation, support immunity;
  • mumiyo - used to relieve exacerbation of the chronic form of the disease;
  • oats - removes sand and stones, has a diuretic effect, which helps to remove toxins from the body, is rich in vitamins and minerals, stimulates the immune system, is used in the treatment of various pathologies caused by inflammation;
  • cranberries - an excellent antiseptic and diuretic, relieves inflammation;
  • honey - stimulates the defenses, relieves inflammation, destroys pathogenic microflora;
  • millet - helps to remove edema, increase vitality, replenishes the lack of trace elements;
  • ginger - eliminates inflammation, relieves cramps, strengthens the immune system.

As a rule, decoctions, infusions, extracts from medicinal raw materials of plant origin are used.

In the treatment of chronic pyelonephritis, the collection made from birch leaves, St. John's wort and knotweed grass, marigold flowers and fennel seeds, taken in equal proportions, will quickly ease the condition.

  1. Combine all components and mix.
  2. Pour a tablespoon of the resulting mixture into a thermos and pour 250 ml of boiling water.
  3. Insist 90 minutes, filter.
  4. Drink the infusion warm for 20 - 25 minutes before eating, four times a day.
  5. The treatment course is 21 to 35 days.

For the purpose of prevention, another composition is also effective: from the grass of a knotweed taken in an amount of 3 parts, add 2 parts of cinnamon, oat straw, sage leaves, large-leafed mushrooms, rose hips, licorice roots to them.

Pour everything into a container and mix.

  1. Pour 2 tablespoons of the collection into a thermos and pour ½ liter of boiling water.
  2. Let it brew for 2 hours, filter.
  3. Take four times a day for ¼ cup for 20 minutes before eating.
  4. The treatment course is 30 days.
  5. After this, take a week break, repeat the therapy.
  6. It is necessary to conduct 5 courses. This will lead to a stable remission.

Diet for inflammatory kidney disease

It is important to adhere to a special food system and observe bed rest or at least gentle treatment. It is required to drink water, teas, decoctions in an amount sufficient to prevent dehydration and the rapid washing out of pathogens from the urinary system.

When pyelonephritis is allowed to use:

  • fish
  • not fatty meat;
  • stale bread;
  • vegetable first courses;
  • porridge;
  • a variety of vegetable crops;
  • eggs cooked to a soft yolk;
  • milk and products based on it;
  • lean types of oil.

The consumption of certain products must be limited:

  • spicy spices, including garlic, onions, horseradish;
  • certain types of table greens;
  • some sour berries, vegetables, fruits, and juices from them.

Strongly forbidden:

  • broths on fish or meat;
  • smoked meats.

In addition, it is necessary to reduce the use of sweets and spices.

Possible complications

Untimely appeal to a nephrologist contributes to the development of complications. Self-medication can have a detrimental effect on the health status. Another bad effect on health can be a treatment prescribed not in accordance with the stage of development of the pathology. Often the cause of unpleasant consequences is neglect of bed rest and diet, hypothermia or concomitant chronic diseases.

Often pyelonephritis is accompanied by bacteriostatic shock and hypertension. The acute form of inflammation of the kidneys provokes the appearance of paranephritis, retroperitonitis, urosepsis, acute renal dysfunction.

Chronic inflammation is one of the causes of nephrosclerosis, pyonephrosis, chronic renal failure.

Pyelonephritis is a rather complex and serious disease, but if you do not give a damn about yourself, serious complications can be avoided. By clearly following the recommendations of the attending physician, a stable remission can be achieved.

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