Interstitial nephritis: symptoms, causes, to treatment

Definition

What is interstitial nephritis?

Interstitial nephritis is a disease that causes inflammation and swelling of the space around the nephron. Nephron is the smallest unit of kidney which consists of blood vessels and several channels for blood filtering waste substances.

Each kidney has 200 thousand to 1.8 million nephrons. Each nephron functions as a filter for waste as well as a channel for urine to the ureters. The ureters are the tubes that connect the kidneys to the bladder.

Interstitial nephritis is a condition that can occur in any age group, but is more common in the elderly. This disease can be acute (appears rapidly due to a factor) or chronic (lasts a long time).

As many as 10-15 percent of cases of kidney failure are caused by inflammation of the nephrons. Therefore, the steps you take to prevent interstitial nephritis also play an important role in preventing kidney failure.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of interstitial nephritis?

Interstitial nephritis is a condition that has certain symptoms. Often times, sufferers don't even show any symptoms until kidney function is severely impaired.

The main symptoms of early-stage nephritis include fever and a rash. In addition, urine may contain eosinophil cells. Eosinophils are a type of white blood cell with the main function of fighting parasites and infections.

If left untreated, inflammation of the nephrons can gradually cause symptoms of kidney failure in the form of:

• lethargic body,
• nausea and / or vomiting,
• itchy rash,
• swelling of the legs, and
• metallic taste in mouth.

Once the infection has caused inflammation of the nephrons, sufferers usually experience symptoms such as:

• fever,
• chills,
• back pain,
• burning sensation when urinating,
• difficulty urinating,
• pain when urinating (anyang-anyangan), or
• bloody urine.

Blood pressure may become high and sometimes difficult to control.

There are also some characteristics and symptoms that may not be mentioned above. If you have concerns about certain symptoms, consult a doctor immediately.

When should I call the doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you experience any of the following complaints.

• You have blood in your urine or you have chills, fever, and low back pain.
• Have a rash after starting a new medication, are allergic to penicillin or other antibiotics, and have drug side effects.

Everyone can have a variety of symptoms or conditions. Therefore, always discuss with your doctor if you are worried about a symptom or need information regarding the best diagnosis, treatment, and treatment method for you.

Causes and risk factors

What causes interstitial nephritis?

Interstitial nephritis is generally caused by a reaction to medications, including allergies to antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, and diuretics. Other drugs, coupled with bacterial and viral infections, can also cause this disease.

Allergic reactions to drugs are more severe in the elderly. This age group is not only at higher risk of developing nephritis, but also permanent kidney damage.

Meanwhile, interstitial nephritis that is not caused by allergies may be associated with the following conditions.

• Too low blood potassium levels.
• Blood calcium levels that are too high.
• Certain infections.
• In rarer cases, autoimmune disorders such as lupus, sarcoidosis, and Sjogren's syndrome.
• Another unknown factor.

Nonallergic inflammation of the nephrons can be chronic or acute. Acute nephritis occurs rapidly due to one or more of the factors mentioned above.

Meanwhile, chronic nephritis usually starts from other health problems that have been going on for a long time.

What increases the risk of developing nephron inflammation?

The elderly are a group at high risk of developing interstitial nephritis. This is because the elderly tend to consume drugs frequently, but their ability to respond to drugs has significantly decreased.

In addition, other factors that can increase the risk of developing interstitial nephritis include:

• in adults, the cause could be due to consumption of drugs without a doctor's instructions,
• have an autoimmune disorder,
• have sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the lungs, as well
• in children, the cause can be related to infection.

Diagnosis

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

The doctor determines the diagnosis from medical history, physical examination, blood tests, and urine tests. If a problem with your kidney function is suspected, the doctor will discuss your medical history in more detail.

Your doctor may also analyze your medication history through the following questions.

• What medicines do you take?
• How often do you take these drugs?
• How long have you been taking these drugs?

If your kidney problems are caused by side effects or drug use, you may be asked to stop taking the drug. In many cases, this action can quickly restore kidney function.

If the cause is not drugs, the doctor will likely recommend investigations with ultrasound (USG). This procedure uses sound waves to get a picture of the condition of your kidneys.

For a diagnosis that is still unclear, the doctor may also perform a kidney biopsy. This examination is done by inserting a special needle into the kidney to take a tissue sample. The sample is then examined in the laboratory.

Treatment

What are the treatment options for interstitial nephritis?

Interstitial nephritis treatment aims to treat kidney failure and treat metabolic problems associated with kidney failure. These metabolic problems include low blood potassium, high calcium, and so on.

Treatment will be tailored to the patient's needs under the supervision of a urologist. If the cause is drugs, the doctor will usually advise the patient to stop taking the drug.

If the patient's body does not respond to initial treatment, corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone can be given to treat inflammation. However, if corticosteroids have no effect, stronger drugs such as cyclophosphamide can be tried.

The form of treatment for infection is also different. The doctor first needs to find out what type of microorganism is causing the infection. Only then can your doctor prescribe an antibiotic that is suitable for you.

Home remedies

What are the forms of lifestyle changes to treat this condition?

Here are a variety of lifestyle remedies or home remedies that can help you manage interstitial nephritis.

• Stop taking drugs that are clear to cause inflammation of the nephrons.
• Always take medicines as prescribed.
• Drink lots of water to speed up the removal of bacteria from the bladder.
• Not holding back pee.
• Cleaning the intimate organs after urinating and having sex.

Interstitial nephritis is a condition that can cause acute or chronic inflammation of the nephrons.

If you experience the symptoms mentioned above, consult a doctor immediately to prevent this condition from progressing to kidney failure.