What do Doctors call this Condition? Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis

What is this Condition?

Acute glomerulonephritis is a relatively common inflammation of the glomeruli - tiny masses of capillary blood vessels that function to filter waste products from the blood. It affects people who have had a streptococcal infection of the respiratory tract or, less often, a skin infection such as impetigo.

Acute glomerulonephritis is most common in boys ages 3 to 7, but anyone can get it. Up to 95% of children and up to 70% of adults with acute glomerulonephritis recover fully. The rest may have serious complications, such as chronic kidney failure, within months.

What Causes it?

Acute glomerulonephritis is caused by an abnormal immune reaction, which produces clusters of antigen-antibody cells. The cell clusters become trapped in the glomeruli, inflaming them and interfering with their function. Sometimes this allows red blood cells and proteins to filter through, which can lead to uremic poisoning.

What are its Symptoms?

Acute glomerulonephritis begins within 1 to 3 weeks after the person has had an untreated sore throat. Symptoms include mild to moderate swelling, decreased urination, bloody urine, and fatigue. The person may have high blood pressure from sodium or water retention due to impaired kidney function. Symptoms may progress to congestive heart failure and fluid in the lungs.

How is it Diagnosed?

The doctor will ask about symptoms and any recent illness, then order lab tests, including urinalysis to assess kidney filtration, throat culture to check for Streptococcus, renal ultrasound to check for kidney enlargement, and biopsy of kidney tissue to confirm the diagnosis in a person with acute glomerulonephritis or assess the kidney’s status.

How is it Treated?

Treatment aims to relieve the person’s symptoms and prevent complications. The doctor will urge bed rest, fluid and dietary sodium restrictions, and correction of electrolyte imbalances (possibly with dialysis, although this is rarely necessary). The person may be given diuretics, such as Diulo or Lasix, to reduce fluid overload and blood pressure medicine, such as Alazine.

What can a Person with Acute Glomerulonephritis do?

If you are diagnosed with this serious kidney infection, your recovery, in the hospital and at home, will pass through several slow stages. It’s important to follow the doctor’s directions:

Follow a diet high in calories and low in protein, sodium, potassium, and fluids.

Stay in bed during the acute phase; then gradually resume normal activities as your symptoms subside.

If you must have dialysis, become familiar with the procedure.

If you have a history of chronic upper respiratory tract infections, immediately tell the doctor about any signs of infection (fever, sore throat).

Follow-up examinations are necessary to detect chronic kidney failure, especially if you are pregnant. To avoid complications, your blood pressure, urine protein level, and kidney function must be monitored for several months to detect any return of the disease. Your urine will need to be tested periodically. Other viral infections may cause bloody urine and the results of other urine tests may be abnormal for years to come.