Nephritis

Nephritis is a disorder of the kidneys that affects the filtration process. Kidneys are responsible for the removal of excess water and salts from the blood through urine. This process is through the functional and filtration units of the kidneys, i.e. nephrons. In Nephritis, inflammation of nephrons occurs, which results in the improper functioning of the kidneys. It can cause excessive removal of proteins from the body.

The disorder can be due to the after-effects of some severe infections. It can affect every age group. 

Nephritis is very common in patients with diseases such as Lupus and diabetes in adults. It is an autoimmune disorder, i.e. the immune system gets confused and starts attacking the healthy cells of the kidneys. The exact cause of autoimmune disorders is not yet known.

Nephritis Definition

Nephritis is an autoimmune kidney disorder that causes inflammation of the nephrons, the functional unit of the kidneys. More precisely, it affects the glomerular part of the nephron. Glomeruli – these are the tiny filters of the body – remove excess fluids and salts from the human body. 

Symptoms of Nephritis

The common symptoms of the disease are as follows-

• Pelvis pain.
• Pain in urination.
• Frequent urge of urination.
• Cloudy appearance of urine.
• Blood in the urine.
• Pain in the abdomen near the kidney region.
• Swelling in the face, legs, and feet.
• Vomiting

Causes of Nephritis

Nephritis can be genetic or due to any after-effects of any infection or disease. Some of these causes are as follows-

• Post-streptococcal Nephritis- This type of infection is most common in children than adults. It affects after the recovery from a throat infection. In the recovery phase, the immune system produces antibodies in excess. These antibodies may accumulate in the glomeruli, causing its inflammation. 
• Bacterial or Viral Infections- Bacteria that target the heart can also lead to glomerulonephritis. Heart patients are therefore more prone to this disease. The viruses such as HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), and hepatitis virus can also cause the disorder. This is more common in adults than in children.
• Lupus- Lupus is also an autoimmune disorder that affects the majority of organs in the body. This also causes fatal effects on the human kidneys. Thus, it can be a cause for glomerulonephritis too.
• Diabetes and High Blood Pressure- Diabetes is well-known for causing infections in the kidneys. It can also be a cause of this disease as it affects the normal functioning of the kidneys. Patients with high blood sugar levels have high chances of kidney failure. 

High BP can lead to organ damage (kidneys). Therefore, maintaining the BP is necessary for the healthy functioning of the kidneys.

Classification of Nephritis

There are various types of glomerulonephritis affecting numerous people globally. The classification of Nephritis is as follows-

• Acute Nephritis- The acute type is an effect of certain severe infections such as HIV, hepatitis (hepatitis A and B), and strep throat. Early diagnosis of these diseases can be very helpful in treating them.
• Lupus Nephritis- As described earlier, Lupus is an autoimmune disorder. Patients with this disease have a more than 50% chance of developing glomerulonephritis. It affects the functioning of the kidneys and other organs too. Therefore, early estimation of this disease must prevent damage to other organs.
• Hereditary Nephritis (Alport Syndrome)- Alport syndrome is a hereditary disease that affects the kidneys and eyes as the target organ. It can cause kidney failure, eye abnormalities, and can also lead to hearing loss. The most common symptom of this disease is blood in the urine. It is more common in males than females.
• Chronic Glomerulonephritis- The chronic form of this disease slowly develops and causes severe infections. If not treated properly, it can cause kidney failures and kidney damage. The cause of this disease may be genetic or may develop as a result of other diseases.
• IgA Nephropathy- It is one of the most common forms of the disorder. Immunoglobulin is secreted as a response to harmful substances in the body. Sometimes, IgA (immunoglobulin A) gets accumulated inside the kidneys, causing inflammation. Treatment generally involves controlling blood pressure medications.
• Interstitial Nephritis- Interstitial Nephritis affects the interstitium part of the kidneys. This is due to some infection or side effects of certain medications. Early treatment of the disease can help in the proper recovery of it.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of the disease varies upon the type of infection. Some of the methods of diagnosing the disease are as follows-

• Blood tests- Blood tests are used to measure the levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen in them. An increase in their levels can cause deterioration of the kidneys.
• Urinalysis- Urinalysis is the test of urine. An excess of proteins or WBCs in urine can indicate an infection of the kidneys.
• Kidney Biopsy – In kidney biopsy, a small tissue of the kidney is removed and examined for the real cause of inflammation. This can be a painful process. It is the necessary process for the confirmation of the disease.

Treatment 

The treatment will include treating the cause of the disease. Moreover, the doctors will aim to treat the inflammation of the kidneys through medications. Several antibiotics are present for treating the disease. In case of any infection as the cause of glomerulonephritis, the doctors will aim to treat that infection.

Prevention 

The kidney disorder, i.e. glomerulonephritis, can be prevented with a healthy diet, proper exercise, and intake of a good amount of water. Some of the preventive measures you can adopt are as follows-

• Try to maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid smoking.
• Intake of a good amount of fluid.
• In the case of diabetes, always follow proper medications and control the blood sugar level.
• Avoid hypertension.
• Consume less potassium in your diet if you are prone to kidney infections.
• Maintaining healthy blood pressure is necessary for the proper functioning of the kidneys.

Conclusion 

Nephritis is the inflammation of the glomerular part of nephrons. Nephrons are the functional unit of the kidneys. It is an autoimmune disorder and can be due to certain bacterial and viral infections. The disease can occur because of other underlying disorders such as Hepatitis, HIV, and Lupus. 

The treatment of this disease involves treating the underlying cause. The diagnosis involves blood tests and urine tests. Early diagnosis provides better treatment of the disease.