General characteristics of kidney function and disease symptoms
The kidney filtration system consists of many glomeruli and tubules that allow salts, metal oxides, heavy halogens (bromine, chlorine), and dead phagocytes to pass through, leaving behind large volume molecules, usually protein compounds.
Kidneys also:
- maintain acid-base balance in the blood;
- control the body’s water balance;
- protect other organs of the endocrine system from the influence of harmful chemical compounds.
The first symptoms of the disease are pain, swelling and changes in urine parameters.
Pain in the kidney area is caused by various reasons; how can one determine that the functioning of this particular paired organ is impaired?
Diseases of the excretory system and kidneys are accompanied by a number of specific symptoms:
- urinary disorders. Emptying the bladder may be frequent or infrequent. Often, problems with frequent urination occur at night. Difficulty in urinating and discomfort during sexual intercourse accompany almost all urological problems;
- Normally, a healthy man should produce from 800 to 1500 ml of urine per day. Deviation from these indicators is a sign of problems with the excretory system;
- impurities of blood in urine, lower back pain are sure signs of diseases of the urinary system. During the release of red blood cells, the patient experiences renal colic (an acute attack of pain);
- Increased blood pressure and constant swelling indicate problems with the urinary organs.
There are many reasons why problems arise. But, judging by research, most often the kidneys make themselves felt if a person has a disorder of protein or water-salt balance. Also, the kidneys can hurt if the patient has problems with gastrointestinal function.
In case of severe pain, a person must consult a doctor. He will be able to determine the cause of acute pain, and then eliminate the unpleasant symptoms caused by the disease. For example, both kidney problems and inflammation of appendicitis or pyelonephritis can cause discomfort.
If a person has problems directly with the organs of the urinary system, the symptoms will be as follows:
- pronounced swelling in the morning;
- increased blood pressure;
- chills;
- migraine;
- paleness of the skin.
As for local symptoms, in this case the most common symptom is pain in the lumbar region. In this case, discomfort may increase during urination or with certain body movements (for example, if the patient suddenly stands on his toes and just as abruptly returns to his original position).
With kidney pathologies, the following symptoms will be observed:
- unpleasant odor of urine;
- an ammonia odor often appears from the mouth;
- small pimples appear on the skin, similar to a rash;
- discomfort during urination;
- urine takes on a red tint or a pronounced bright yellow color.
If the patient notices at least a few of the above symptoms, he needs to see a specialist as soon as possible. The doctor will be able to make an accurate diagnosis after receiving and interpreting urine and blood tests.
Symptoms may vary between men and women, so let’s look at how kidney disease manifests itself in females:
- in the morning the face swells greatly, but by the evening everything returns to normal;
- your arms and legs may also swell;
- sometimes body temperature rises for no apparent reason;
- there are changes in color and odors of urine;
- there is a frequent urge to urinate, and going to the toilet is painful;
- vomiting or nausea;
- decreased performance;
- bloating;
- frequent dry mouth;
- migraine;
- There may be blood in the urine.
To distinguish whether the kidneys or lower back hurt, you need to consult a specialist and undergo laboratory tests. As a rule, this is enough to determine the pathology.
Judging by statistics, doctors are much less likely to visit doctors than women. In this regard, kidney problems are detected already in the chronic stages, when the disease is much more difficult to cure. Some doctors attribute this factor to a negligent attitude towards one’s health, some to the fact that in men the symptoms are not so pronounced.
As a rule, if a man complains of pain, tests show the following diseases:
- nephroptosis;
- hydronephrosis;
- pyelonephritis, etc.
With kidney pathology, most often a man feels constant or paroxysmal pain that appears in the lumbar region.
There are other signs that may indicate problems with this vital organ:
- severe thirst accompanied by dry mouth;
- lethargy, apathy;
- hanging blood pressure;
- swelling may appear on the face and abdomen;
- polyuria or anuria;
- cloudy urine that may contain traces of blood.
The symptoms described above may be a sign of serious pathologies that require immediate elimination. Therefore, it is imperative to make an appointment with a specialist, especially if there is blood in the urine.
Different diseases manifest themselves differently. For example, if a person has pyelonephritis, in this case the pain will occur mainly in the lumbar region. Let us consider exactly how painful sensations are distributed in different pathologies.
Pain in the kidney on the left, as practice shows, indicates that a person may have:
- Pyelonephritis. As a rule, this disease manifests itself acutely - pain is accompanied by an increase in body temperature, severe swelling in the morning, nausea, chills (accompanied by elevated temperature).
- Urolithiasis disease. In this case, the nature of the pain can be either tolerable or pronounced. Basically, discomfort manifests itself after active physical exercise or a sudden change in body position. During urination, you may notice a burning sensation, itching or pain.
- Oncology. Such conditions are characterized by pronounced pain - and every day it will intensify (as the malignant or benign tumor grows). There is often aches throughout the body and increased weakness. Only a doctor can determine whether a patient has cancer after laboratory and instrumental examinations!
If a person’s right kidney hurts, this may indicate a pathology near the excretory organs. The most common reasons:
- appendicitis;
- nephroptosis;
- the presence of parasites in the body;
- cyst or cancer, etc.
You should consult a doctor if a person has pain in the kidneys or lower back on the right, and the following symptoms are noted:
- increased body temperature;
- sudden appearance of rash and itching on the skin;
- blood is found in the urine;
- during urination, a person feels severe discomfort - burning, stinging;
- vision deteriorates;
- an ammonia smell appears from the mouth.
First of all, the patient should note the location of the pain. Sick kidneys can radiate to the lower back, groin, and even genitals.
The kidneys will hurt with any disease of the urinary system. At the same time, doctors emphasize that the nature of the pain varies:
- pulling;
- pricking;
- aching;
- spicy;
- paroxysmal pain, etc.
In order to accurately understand that it is the kidneys that are hurting, and not sciatica, you need to use the following lights.
- If you have been in an uncomfortable position for a long time, engaged in heavy physical labor, or lifted weights, your lumbar muscles most likely hurt.
- When a person has been in the cold air for a long time, or has been sitting on damp, unheated ground, it is worth worrying about. It is possible that acute or moderate pain may be caused by an inflammatory process in the kidneys.
- You should also take into account the fact that with pathologies of the musculoskeletal system, pain appears after excessive activity. If a person has problems with the urinary system, then discomfort will manifest itself in the evening or at night.
Other signs:
- If the problem is in the kidneys, the pain will be present all the time. Simply put, a person will not feel more comfortable when changing body position.
- Basically, the kidneys hurt at night, while diseases of the musculoskeletal system can be accompanied by discomfort at any time of the day or night. At the same time, they appear periodically and are not permanent.
- Kidney pathologies are almost always accompanied by migraines, thirst, poor appetite and elevated body temperature.
Doctors use a fairly effective diagnostic method. So, in order to determine whether a person’s kidneys hurt, you need to lightly tap on the lower rib from behind. If there is a problem, the pain will radiate to the lower back, and this already indicates that the patient will have to undergo all the tests prescribed by the doctor and undergo a course of treatment.
- Recommended reading:
- Symptoms of urological diseases;
- How to treat kidney pain;
- The best drugs to restore kidney function.
How can you tell if your kidneys or lower back hurt? You need to listen to yourself and pay attention to the following conditions.
- Problems with urination. The amount of urine and its color change. The process itself can be painful, accompanied by burning and stinging. In this case, in the morning the patient may experience swelling of the face, arms and legs. This is due to a violation of the outflow of urine. Typically, in such conditions, symptoms of intoxication, headaches, and fever make themselves felt.
- Change in urine color. You can also see turbidity, light flakes, and blood in the urine. This is directly related to the fact that the kidneys do not perform their function correctly. Therefore, such conditions are accompanied by a rash on the skin, changes in vision, loss of appetite and general weakness.
- Constant pain. If the problem is in the kidneys, discomfort will always be present, intensifying in the evening. If the causes of pain lie elsewhere, the discomfort will not be regular.
If a person feels that there is pain in the kidney area, he needs to consult a specialist who treats such pathologies - a urologist or nephrologist. The specialist will prescribe a standard course of diagnostic measures:
- blood analysis;
- Analysis of urine;
- Ultrasound.
In some cases, the patient is referred to other specialized specialists, depending on what exactly the tests and ultrasound diagnostics show.
The main function of the kidneys is to eliminate toxins and produce urine. If this function is disrupted, in any case the person will feel changes in his condition. This may be malaise, weakness, symptoms of intoxication.
Causes of inflammation
Inflammatory processes are formed under existing external unfavorable factors. The pathological process is divided into primary and secondary. The disease gradually progresses under the influence of certain factors:
keep fit
- disruption of the functionality of the autoimmune system - especially often occurs in the autumn and winter seasons, when the protective barriers in the body decrease;
- neglecting the need for physical activity;
- overload;
- restraining the natural urge to urinate;
- hidden chronic forms of infectious processes;
- incorrectly selected daily diet, with a predominance of undesirable dishes;
- insufficient fluid intake;
- stable hypothermia;
- infectious diseases of the genitourinary system;
- poisoning with chemicals, salts of heavy metals;
- oncological neoplasms;
- chronic type of alcohol dependence.
The causes of kidney inflammation in men may depend on the form of the disease and occur with certain symptoms:
- acute – occurs when various pathogenic microflora (streptococcal, coccal infections, Proteus, E. coli) penetrate into the kidney tissue, characterized by sharp pain in the lumbar region, swelling;
- chronic - manifests itself after an acute process of inflammation with incorrectly prescribed treatment or refusal of medical care, determined during moments of exacerbation with constant nagging painful sensations, signs of intoxication of the body.
As an exception, the development of pathology occurs against the background of prolonged use of anti-inflammatory drugs (non-steroidal analgesics).
Other signs and symptoms of kidney disease in men
Correctly identifying the signs and causes of kidney disease is half the way to recovery.
Kidney diseases manifest many symptoms, depending on the pathology and the degree of damage to the organ. As a rule, with kidney disease, pain is localized in the lower back, and then radiates to different parts. Patients complain of a dull, sharp pain, which is sometimes aching in nature. In some cases, the painful sensations are paroxysmal, and sometimes they are constantly present and are marked by monotony. Kidney diseases are manifested by the following symptoms:
- Anuria, which is characterized by the cessation of urine flow into the bladder. The pathology provokes a violation of blood circulation in the kidneys and affects the organ at a diffuse level.
- Acute urinary retention, in which the patient experiences pain in the lower abdomen. This symptom occurs against the background of the formation of kidney stones, prostate adenoma, or a tumor in the bladder.
- Hematuria, which is marked by bloody discharge in the urine. Pathology is observed in the case of inflammation of the parenchyma, calyx or pelvis of the organ.
In adult men with pathologies in the kidneys, general signs of the disease are also observed. There is an increased body temperature, which is difficult to bring down with medication. There is a lack of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and itchy skin. Often, the inflammatory process in the internal organ makes itself felt by increased blood pressure. External symptoms of the disease may be mild and vary depending on the course of the pathology.
Treatment of sick kidneys
Treatment of kidney diseases differs in the variety of methods used, depending on the type of pathology, complications present and the severity of organ damage.
There are four groups of measures that are used to treat kidneys:
- Use of traditional medicine. Basically, these are various tinctures, decoctions and other self-prepared remedies for internal use. All recipes in this case are based on plant ingredients with the possible addition of honey.
- Strict adherence to a diet that involves complete or almost complete exclusion from the diet of carbonated and alcoholic drinks, salty, fried, spicy and fatty foods.
- Treatment with antibiotics and painkillers.
- Surgical intervention.
People with diseased kidneys must constantly monitor their water-salt balance - for this they need to drink at least two liters of purified water every day (not including teas, juices and other drinks consumed during the day).
Broad-spectrum and narrow-spectrum antibacterial agents are almost always appropriate, since even if the pathology is of non-infectious origin, such therapy will help prevent the addition of secondary bacterial ailments.
This is an extreme measure that may be advisable both in case of structural disorders of the kidneys and in the presence of stones in it. Timely surgical intervention ensures a favorable outcome, even if the operation involves partial or complete removal of the affected organ.
To prevent the development of kidney pathologies in men and avoid severe and long-term treatment, you can first of all review your lifestyle.
It is necessary to give up bad habits and adjust your diet, but sometimes such measures, although they reduce the risk of disease, cannot completely eliminate it (in particular, if a person has a predisposition to such diseases).
Causes of kidney pain
How can you tell if your kidneys are hurting? First of all, listen to your feelings. If the problem is in the kidneys, then the main unpleasant symptoms will be in the lumbar region, dull pain with aching shades (usually localized on one side, depending on the damage to a particular kidney). The unpleasant sensations are monotonous, unlike osteochondrosis and other pathologies in which the pain intensifies during movement.
There are many pathologies, all of which are accompanied by back pain. Each disease is accompanied by specific symptoms.
It is the most common pathology among men, which provokes pain in the kidneys. Unpleasant sensations from urolithiasis occur in advanced stages, when the stones have reached large sizes or during the release of sand and stones (the formations damage the mucous membranes with uneven edges).
If the calculus has blocked the urinary canal, the patient experiences signs of intoxication (chills, fever, vomiting, dizziness, lack of urine or excretion in very small quantities). This situation requires an immediate call to the doctors at home.
Glomerulonephritis
The inflammatory process affects the renal tubules and glomeruli. Glomerulonerite develops rapidly, the pain is bilateral, the patient complains of blood in the urine, swelling of the face, and an unreasonable increase in blood pressure.
Pyelonephritis
Infectious pathology is accompanied by aching and dull pain; the unpleasant sensations are unilateral or bilateral. Remember: the disease develops against the background of urolithiasis, so attacks of discomfort sometimes appear suddenly and then subside a little.
Pyelonephritis in the stronger sex is accompanied by elevated body temperature, swelling of the face, and loss of appetite. The pathological process starts gradually, which makes diagnosis difficult.
In most cases, the pathological process does not reveal itself in any way; nagging pain in the lower back appears during the rapid growth of a benign tumor, when the tumor damages blood vessels or puts pressure on neighboring organs. The only sure sign of a tumor is problems with the outflow of urine or the release of a small amount of urine.
The victim feels a sharp pain in the lower back, which is girdling in nature. The sensations can be so intense that patients often lose consciousness. Additionally, thrombosis of the renal arteries is accompanied by spontaneous vomiting, high blood pressure, and lack of urine.
Important! Pathology requires immediate medical attention! Delay in contacting a specialist can have dire consequences.
Kidney cancer
Pain is not the main symptom of the disease, but it accompanies the final stages of the pathological process. Unpleasant sensations are formed not against the background of the malignant tumor itself, but as a result of the deterioration of the patient’s condition (anemia, prolonged hyperemia, constant fatigue).
The formation is a capsule covered with a film and filled with liquid. Painful sensations occur with a serious increase in formation, after an infection has attached, when the kidney cyst is filled with blood mixed with pus. Most cases are asymptomatic, sometimes causing mild pain. The frequency of unpleasant sensations should alert the patient and lead to an appointment with a doctor.
Most pathologies lead to nagging pain before and after urination. Incorrect anatomical location of the kidneys leads to compression of the ureter and difficult emptying.
Unpleasant sensations arise against the background of the following pathologies:
- kidney bruise – the pain is short-term and not intense;
- organ rupture – acute pain syndrome is observed, a sharp decrease in blood pressure is added, hematuria is noted, and a hematoma forms at the site of damage;
- severe injuries - the pain is intense, acute attacks are observed, the pathology is accompanied by internal bleeding, the victim loses consciousness.
Tuberculosis
The disease is accompanied by unpleasant sensations of a stabbing nature; they haunt the patient constantly; in some cases, the man loses sleep due to pain. Kidney tuberculosis is always accompanied by the presence of blood in the urine, then pus.
Lumbar discomfort is often the only symptom that indicates a pathological process in the patient’s body.
Other ailments can mimic kidney problems:
- acute appendicitis. The pathology is characterized by increased body temperature, acute pain in the right side of the lumbar region, the patient feels nauseous, and loss of consciousness is possible. In such a situation, immediately call an ambulance;
- pathologies of the abdominal cavity. In this case, symptoms of intoxication of the body, nausea, vomiting join the pain in the lower back;
- diseases of the musculoskeletal system, in particular osteochondrosis. Often these ailments lead to back pain, which is confused with kidney disease;
- inflammatory process in the male genital organs. The reproductive and excretory systems are closely related. Prostate adenoma can present with unpleasant symptoms.
Heavy physical exertion on the body can provoke the disease.
Kidney diseases are preceded by various factors. Men are often subject to abnormalities in the functioning of the internal organ because they deal with physical stress. Diseases often arise due to poor drinking balance, which provokes the formation of stones and the presence of sand in the organs of the urinary system. Men who professionally engage in heavy sports are more likely to develop kidney disease.
In some cases, pathological processes in the internal organ are associated with the anatomical features of the urinary system. Kidney disease can be acquired in case of increased adrenal function. It is worth carefully monitoring the condition of the internal organs, since injuries and hematomas can cause serious illnesses. Kidney problems arise in the event of unfavorable genetics or blockage of an artery in the organ.
The most common cause in men is hypothermia.
Men rarely pay attention to minor pain and difficulty urinating, and when contacting a urologist or nephrologist, an advanced form is often diagnosed.
Other reasons:
- complications after taking antibiotics or hormonal drugs;
- complications of diseases of the genitourinary system - cystitis, urethritis, orchitis, mumps;
- excessive consumption of fatty and spicy foods - diseases of a non-infectious nature due to the constant and high concentration of hydrochloric and acetic acids;
- alcohol abuse – acetic acid;
- excessive physical activity – nephroptosis;
- mechanical damage - injuries;
- congenital predisposition;
- hormonal imbalance due to prostate enlargement - mainly in old age.
What factors contribute?
In male patients, the following predisposing factors may influence the development of renal diseases:
- constant excessive physical activity;
- fluid imbalance due to insufficient or excessive drinking;
- anatomical unique features of the kidney structure;
- increased adrenal function;
- injuries and organ damage;
- renal artery blockage;
- genetic predisposition.
An exclusively “male” cause of kidney disease is excessive beer consumption . This drink can cause a number of pathologies, including nephritis (inflammatory damage to the kidney calyces and pelvis), which occurs when filtration functions are impaired.
Also, beer lovers often suffer from kidney infarctions, which are caused by blockage of the renal vessels with products processed by the body of beer. Urolithiasis often occurs when stones are also formed when the components that make up beer enter the body.
Additionally, beer has a dehydrating effect , which causes degeneration of the kidneys, which are poisoned by toxins in the absence of a sufficient amount of fluid. Under such conditions, the ethanol contained in beer affects the cellular structures of organ tissues, entering them through filtration channels.
Diagnostics
Depending on the clinical picture, the doctor prescribes a specific list of studies to make the correct diagnosis. In most cases, a sick man is prescribed a general and biochemical analysis of blood, urine, and ultrasound of the pelvic organs. Palpation of the affected area plays an important role. By touch, you can determine the presence of formations in the damaged organ and the localization of pain.
Diagnosis begins with collecting anamnesis - listening to the patient’s complaints about the manifestation of certain symptoms. Then laboratory diagnostic methods are used:
- A general blood test determines the presence of inflammatory processes, suppuration, blood sugar levels and the occurrence of allergic reactions.
- General urine analysis - the composition of urine, inflammation and suppuration in the genitourinary system.
- Urine analysis according to Zimnitsky - deviations from the norm, the volume excreted during the day.
- Urinalysis according to Nechiporenko - diagnosis of impaired filtration function of the kidneys.
In men, prostate parameters must be diagnosed.
Instrumental methods:
- Uroflowmetry – dynamics of the stream during urination.
- Ultrasound of the kidneys and or abdominal cavity and pelvic area - the size of the organs.
- CT and MRI – density of foreign formations.
- Kidney biopsy - determining the stage of the tumor, diagnosing interstitial nephritis, in case of chronic renal failure to select further treatment: (can the organ be saved).
If you suspect kidney disease or if the first symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor and undergo a comprehensive diagnosis of the urinary system. The patient is prescribed to undergo general urine and blood tests. The doctor refers the man to bacteriological urine culture and ultrasound examination of the kidneys and pelvic organs.
Treatment and prevention
As for treatment, it is prescribed individually after a preliminary initial examination, anamnesis collection and a series of laboratory and instrumental studies. Drug and surgical therapy is used. The latter is prescribed when there are obstacles to the flow of urine to eliminate them or correct genetic abnormalities in the structure of organs.
Important! Renal colic is a pathology that requires immediate relief of the pain symptom, for which the patient is given an antispasmodic to drink, offered a warm bath and does not hesitate to call an ambulance.
Prevention of kidney diseases: diet excluding alcohol, fatty, spicy foods, maintaining a drinking regime, a normal healthy lifestyle with feasible physical activity and regular visits to the doctor. If you have kidney diseases, the specialist will select the right diet, medications and recommend herbal treatment.
What are the symptoms of kidney pain in men with various pathologies?
Kidney pathologies without timely treatment lead to loss of organ functionality. Kidney failure can be life-threatening for a man. To prevent serious consequences, diagnosis and treatment of renal pain caused by dysfunction of the urinary system is necessary.
Kidney cancer
Oncological formations in the kidneys in the later stages damage the structures of the organ. The tumor grows into the kidney capsule. In addition to intense pain in the lumbar region, the man develops other signs of cancer. He begins to lose weight very quickly, weakness appears, and his appetite disappears. The temperature may rise to 37.5 - 38 degrees. When visiting the toilet, blood may be present in the urine.
Although the exact causes of kidney cancer have not been fully elucidated, oncologists identify several factors that increase the risk of the disease. These include addiction to smoking and the presence of extra pounds. In men, pathology is detected twice as often as in women.
Approaches to the treatment of kidney cancer depend on the type of tumor, as well as the stage at which it was discovered. To help the patient, nephrectomy is practiced - removal of the diseased organ, radiation and chemotherapy. Targeted drugs that have a detrimental effect only on cancer cells, as well as immunological agents, can be used.
The first symptom of most nephropathies is pain. The pain can be aching, shooting, constant or manifested during physical activity (nephroptosis, urolithiasis). Exceptions are interstitial nephritis, polycystic disease and other tumors.
The second symptom is deviations of urine parameters from the norm, namely:
- Quantitative deviation: more than 1.5-1.8 liters per day (polyuria) - polycystic glomerulonephritis, if accompanied by edema: oliguria - less than 1 liter per day - inflammatory diseases; anuria – less than 50 ml per day in acute renal failure.
- Color: proteinuria - there is a lot of protein in the urine, whitish color, urine is opaque (urolithiasis, glomerulonephritis, renal failure); hematuria – reddish color if there is a rupture of the epithelium, with stones, pyelonephritis, tumors, kidney tuberculosis.
- Frequency of urination: the average number of urges is 6-10 during the day, 80% during wakefulness, 20% during sleep.
These are common symptoms for all diseases. Each has additional symptoms.
Only a combination of pain and deviations during urination can indicate kidney disease. In other cases, problems may be with another organ of the genitourinary system.
In any case, if at least one of the above symptoms of kidney disease in men occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor.
An infectious disease that causes inflammatory and purulent processes. The kidney tubules are damaged.
The disease has an acute, less often, chronic course. At the chronic stage, the symptoms are blurred. If left untreated, there is a 70% chance of kidney failure.
Symptoms:
- a high temperature of 39% or higher is not controlled by antipyretics;
- swelling of the lower extremities and lumbar region;
- a sharp reduction in urine volume to 200-500 ml per day;
- decreased appetite;
- dull aching pain in the chronic stage or painful spasms in the acute stage;
- possibly increased blood pressure.
Kidney inflammation
It differs from pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis in the absence of a third-party causative agent. Pathology is classified according to the stage of its occurrence - acute and chronic.
Manifestation of signs:
- slight swelling of the pelvic area, and in chronic cases – of the lower and sometimes upper extremities;
- temperature rise to 37.2-37.5, regardless of the time of day;
- pulsation in the lumbar region;
- cloudy urine, the volume may be reduced to 500 ml per day.
General symptoms
There are also common symptoms of kidney disease in men. Their manifestation is associated with a number of pathological mechanisms triggered by the disease.
First of all, the body is poisoned by toxic products of the breakdown of proteins containing nitrogen. Inflamed kidneys cannot cope with the elimination of these substances in the urine. This leads to the fact that uric acid, ammonia, urea and other toxins linger in the body and have a negative effect on all internal organs and tissues.
Also, the development of pathology in the kidney parenchyma and their structural and functional parts, which leads to an imbalance in the dynamic environment and normal biological processes. Such changes in homeostasis are caused by the body’s loss of albumin, enzymes, and important microelements.
All these processes lead to pathological responses of all systems, which are manifested by the following symptoms:
- general weakness;
- headache;
- drying of the oral mucosa, leading to increased water consumption;
- increased fatigue up to the development of chronic fatigue syndrome;
- decreased performance;
- decreased appetite;
- fever;
- nausea, sometimes to the point of vomiting;
- stool disorders;
- skin itching;
- increased sweating at night;
- deterioration of the structure of hair and nails.
Also, any inflammatory kidney disease is accompanied by urinary syndrome, manifested in changes in the composition and chemical and physical properties of urine. Urinary syndrome includes the presence of pathogenic microflora, salt inclusions, blood, leukocytes and proteins in the fluid secreted by the kidneys. Also in this case, the presence in the urine of special structures, cylinders, which are an impression of the internal microstructures of the kidneys formed by protein substances, is characteristic.
How to treat inflammatory kidney diseases? This depends on a number of reasons, including the etiology of the disease, which structures are involved in the pathological process, as well as the level and nature of damage to the renal tissue.
Pathologies of the urinary, urinary and reproductive systems are often interrelated. Therefore, if a man has general signs of kidney inflammation, he should at least submit his urine for a general analysis.
Hydronephrosis
This is a severe systemic pathology with a high degree of progression, characterized by expansion of the renal pelvis and calyces and gradually leading to atrophic processes in the parenchymal tissue. There are few clinical signs of pathology, and they are often perceived by men as manifestations of other diseases not related to kidney function. This can be in the abdomen of varying intensity and nature, a violation of daily diuresis, secondary inflammation of the kidneys, provoked by stagnation of urine and the creation of favorable conditions for the growth of pathogenic colonies.
Hydronephrosis. The difference between a healthy person and a sick one
Symptoms
A diagnostic symptom that allows one to suspect hydronephrosis in a patient is the detection of a formation in the lateral projection of the abdominal wall during palpation of the abdomen. If such symptoms are detected, the man will be sent for an ultrasound examination and renography - a study of the kidneys using a gamma camera, which is carried out after intravenous administration of a radioactive substance. A specific diagnostic method is urography (x-ray examination of the renal system).
Cause of hydronephrosis
Treatment
Treatment includes taking diuretics ( Furosemide ) and antispasmodics based on drotaverine.
Furosemide in tablet form
Types of pathologies
Depending on the causes and nature of the resulting pathology, nephropathy is of the following types:
- Immune lesions:
- Glomerulonephritis.
- Autoimmune nephropathies.
2. Infectious and inflammatory nephropathies:
- Pyelonephritis.
- Papillonecrosis.
- Abscessing lesion.
- Tuberculosis.
- Syphilitic nephropathy.
- Damage by fungi, parasites and protozoa.
3. Metabolic nephropathies:
- Amyloidosis.
- Kidney damage in diabetes.
- Nephropathy with gout.
4. Toxic damage:
- Medicinal.
- Radiation.
- In case of poisoning.
5. Congenital pathologies.
Depending on where the source of development of the pathology was localized, the following types of nephropathy are distinguished:
- Primary – the place where the disease begins to develop is the kidneys. Primary ones include congenital renal diseases and anomalies, glomerulonephritis, infectious pyelonephritis, cancer and kidney injuries.
- Secondary – renal pathologies with gout, hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, etc.
Kidney failure
Renal failure is a general term that unites any violation of all kidney functions, in which the organ cannot cope with the physiological load, and constant replacement therapy (hemodialysis) is required to maintain the vital functions of the body. Acute failure develops as a result of pathological effects on the kidneys of toxic and other factors. The condition can develop against the background of hemorrhagic, infectious, painful shock, as well as in case of severe drug poisoning, if the patient has taken a critical dose.
Kidney failure
Signs
Signs of acute renal failure in men include:
- critical decrease in daily diuresis (up to 400 ml per day);
- anemia;
- disturbance of water and electrolyte balance, manifested by edema and instability of blood pressure;
- constant feeling of thirst.
If the patient receives the necessary assistance in a timely manner aimed at eliminating the cause of the pathology, diuresis can be restored with minimal consequences for the vascular system, heart and hematopoietic organs.
Signs of chronic renal failure
In the absence of adequate therapy within 2-4 weeks, renal failure becomes chronic, and the patient develops typical clinical signs: constant weakness, sudden headaches, anemia. A man's blood pressure may rise and his sleep may be disturbed. With a stable decrease in immunity, the development of polyneuritis is possible - multiple lesions of the nerves of the peripheral nervous system.
Note! More rare symptoms of chronic renal failure are dyspeptic disorders, manifested by abdominal pain, indigestion, and stool instability. Approximately 3.8% of patients were diagnosed with itchy skin in the abdominal area, not associated with infectious lesions of the skin or internal organs.
Treatment
At an early stage, diuretics are used. For diabetic etiology, insulin preparations are prescribed. If the disease is complicated by manifestations of rheumatism, the use of glucocorticoids is indicated.
Video - Kidney failure
Pyelonephritis
Symptoms of inflammatory processes in the kidneys can be localized or systemic (general). A typical local sign of kidney inflammation is pain. The main localization of pain is the lumbar region, but in rare cases, pain can radiate to the coccyx, gluteal muscle, sacrum and groin area. Most often, the combined clinical picture occurs with calculous pyelonephritis, as well as ureteral obstruction associated with blockage by stones. The nature of the pain is dull, aching, possibly paroxysmal. The intensity of pain rarely depends on physical activity or body position.
Kidney with pyelonephritis
Symptoms
If pyelonephritis or glomerulonephritis was provoked by an infectious pathogen, the patient experiences an acute intoxication syndrome, manifested by the following symptoms:
- increased body temperature (in severe cases can reach up to 40°);
- chills combined with sweating and fever;
- decreased appetite;
- nausea;
- general weakness and drowsiness.
Symptoms of pyelonephritis
If the infection spreads rapidly, vomiting may occur once, but the vomit does not have a strong odor and does not contain undigested particles.
Treatment
First-line treatment includes penicillin drugs based on ampicillin or amoxicillin: Ospamox , Amoxicillin , Panclave . Broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents, for example Metronidazole . If a fungal infection is suspected, the prescription of systemic antimycotics is indicated: Fluconazole , Nystatin or Miconazole .
The drug Amoxicillin
Diet
Diet for kidney disease is important, as it allows you to effectively compensate for the pathological process. The most important thing in such a diet is maintaining a water-salt balance in order to relieve the urinary system as much as possible at the time of recovery.
To restore a man’s body, the diet should include at least 3500 kcal per day, but fluid intake is limited. The liquid drunk per day should not exceed a volume of 1.5 liters. Salt intake per day is limited to 3 g, which helps eliminate edema and helps lower blood pressure.
Author : Urologist Nikolai Dobroditsky
Publication date 06/19/2017
Diagnostic measures
At the patient’s initial visit, the urologist collects anamnestic data and sends the patient for a number of diagnostic studies:
- general blood and urine tests;
- biochemical blood test;
- determination of electrolytes in the blood;
- bacteriological culture of urine;
- ultrasound examination of internal organs;
- monitoring of blood pressure indicators;
- diagnostics of kidney condition using radioisotopes;
- immunological testing;
- biochemical study of urine.
With the development of complex pathologies, a kidney tissue biopsy may be used. The technique allows you to quickly make a diagnosis and schedule additional consultations with specialists.