It is helpful to begin with some background knowledge on the kidneys in order to understand kidney issues like nephritis.
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states that the kidneys, two bean-shaped, fist-sized organs located just under the ribs on the left and right sides of the spine, filter 120-150 quarts of blood each day by removing impurities and excess water.
The actual blood filtering occurs in the nephron, which is made up of thousands of structures and is where the two-step cleaning process that separates what the body needs to keep from what it can get rid of takes place.
Blood cells and protein are caught by a filter called the glomerulus, which then sends water and waste to a second filter called the tubule where minerals are then captured before what’s left is excreted as urine.
A condition known as nephritis causes the tubules of the kidney and surrounding tissues to swell, which can harm the kidneys.
If the condition is severe enough or persists for a long enough period of time, kidney failure may result from the damaged kidneys’ inability to function properly, which leads to waste buildup and other serious health issues.
Types
There are several different types of nephritis.
Acute glomerulonephritis:This type of nephritis can appear suddenly after contracting a serious infection, such as strep throat, hepatitis, or HIV, as well as from lupus and uncommon conditions like Goodpasture syndrome or granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). It needs to be treated right away to prevent kidney damage.
Alport Syndrome:This condition, which typically affects men more severely and runs in families, can cause kidney failure as well as vision and hearing issues.
Chronic glomerulonephritis:This disease, which can cause serious kidney damage and kidney failure, slowly develops and has few symptoms in the early stages. It may run in families or arise following an acute case of the disease.
IgA nephropathy:Apart from those associated with conditions like diabetes and lupus, this type of nephritis is one of the most typical types, and it manifests as inflammation brought on by antibody deposits that accumulate in the kidney.
Because early symptoms are often missed, it is more frequently found in men than in women, and it is rarely found in young people. Blood pressure medications are frequently used to treat it.
Interstitial nephritis:This type of nephritis, which frequently progresses very quickly, affects the interstitium of the kidney and is frequently brought on by medications or infections. If the offending medication is quickly stopped, a full recovery can usually be achieved in a few weeks.
Causes
Nephritis can have many different causes, and in some cases, the cause may not be known. Nephritis and kidney disease can run in families, suggesting a potential genetic link. Nephritis can also be brought on by infections like HIV and hepatitis B or C.
Nephritis may be related to immune system issues because lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause it in as many as 60% of patients who are diagnosed with it.
Nephritis can occasionally be brought on by drugs like antibiotics that harm the kidneys, as well as by taking excessive amounts of nsaids, painkillers, and diuretics.
Risk factors
These are the main kidney disease risk factors to watch out for:
- Kidney disease running in the family
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Being 60 or older
Asians, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Natives of Alaska, African-Americans, and Hispanics are more likely than Caucasians to experience kidney issues.
Symptoms
Nephritis symptoms are typically mild in the early stages, but it’s crucial to get medical help if any of the following are present to prevent kidney damage that cannot be reversed:
- Changes in urinating habits
- any location on the body swells, but the hands, feet, ankles, and face in particular
- Changes in urine color
- Foamy urine
- Blood in the urine
Diagnosis
Finding protein in the urine can be an indication that the kidneys are not functioning properly and a blood test that measures the waste product creatinine in the blood can also provide information on kidney health. Routine blood or urine tests can be used to identify nephritis.
Homeopathic Medicine:
Cantheris, Terebinth, Arsenic Album, and Apis Mellifca.
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