Infectious inflammatory disease is caused by bacteria that travel from the bladder to the kidneys
Former One Direction singer Liam Payne has been rushed to hospital in Italy due to an acute kidney infection known as pyelonephritis.
“It is an infectious inflammatory disease, often caused by bacteria that travel from the bladder to the kidneys. It affects the renal parenchyma, where the functional structures that produce urine are located, and the renal pelvis, the dilated portion of the kidney. The bacteria enter the body through the urethra, reach the bladder, travel up the ureters and settle in one or both kidneys, compromising their functioning,” he says. Carolina Reigadanephrologist, specialist in Internal Medicine from the Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo and in Nephrology from the Hospital das Clínicas of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of São Paulo.
Pyelonephritis can be acute or chronic and, in both cases, can progress to kidney damage. The acute form appears overnight, while the chronic form is linked to underlying causes such as diabetes or gallstones.
“In this case, repeated or poorly treated acute infections cause the kidneys to gradually lose their ability to function, leading to their collapse,” explains the nephrologist.
Symptoms include fever, chills, sweating, nausea, vomiting and malaise.
“Many patients also experience lower back and pelvic pain, in the abdomen and back; They suffer from urgency and pain when urinating, signs of pus and blood in the urine, which may become cloudy and, in some cases, have a bad odor,” says the doctor.
Remember that chronic bacterial infection can cause irreversible kidney damage.
Interestingly, the disease affects women more
The disease affects women more than men for anatomical reasons.
“The size of the female urethra [3 cm] It is much shorter than the male one [12 cm] and is located near the anus, a position that favors the entry of microbes, especially during sexual intercourse,” explains the doctor.
Patients with kidney stones, pregnancy, anatomical malformations and prolonged use of urinary catheters are also more predisposed to suffering from pyelonephritis.
“Subjects with a weakened immune system, vesicuretral reflux – the return of small quantities of urine from the bladder to the ureters and kidneys – and diabetes, polycystic kidneys, recurrent cystitis are also more affected,” says the nephrologist.
The disease has a cure
Caroline emphasizes that pyelonephritis can be treated, with antibiotic therapy which should be started as soon as the hypothesis of a kidney infection arises.
“The goal is to prevent the infectious agent from causing permanent damage to these organs or from spreading the infection throughout the body, leading to multiple organ failure. Analgesics and anti-inflammatories may be indicated to relieve pain,” he points out.
To avoid pyelonephritis, your doctor recommends drinking plenty of water, urinating whenever you feel the need, always properly cleaning your intimate area (from front to back), and urinating immediately after sexual intercourse, as a way to eliminate any bacteria that may have penetrated. through the urethra.
“Do not self-medicate or stop taking medications without first listening to what your doctor has to say,” concludes the doctor.
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Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
