Pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidneys

Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

Updated on September 18, 2024

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In fact, pyelonephritis is not really nephritis; it is actually a type of bacterial inflammatory infection. Bacteria can infect many parts of the body. If the urinary system is infected and it reaches the renal pelvis and calyces, it is referred to as pyelonephritis. Over 95% of pyelonephritis cases are caused by bacterial infections, and 70% are due to Escherichia coli. Generally, this bacteria enters the urinary system from the urethral opening and ascends to the renal pelvis and calyces, where it proliferates and causes an inflammatory response. The main clinical symptoms of the patient are fever and back pain, and the patient may also experience gross hematuria (visible blood in urine).

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Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

1min 4sec

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Is pyelonephritis more serious or nephritis more serious?

Pyelonephritis is an upper urinary tract infection caused by a bacterial infection, leading to an inflammatory response in the urinary system. The severity of this condition can vary. Nephritis, on the other hand, refers to the sterile inflammation within the glomeruli of the kidney, which also varies in severity. Therefore, it is challenging to compare these two diseases in terms of their severity. In the case of pyelonephritis, most conditions are relatively more treatable, and using antibiotics can control acute pyelonephritis. However, a small number of patients may develop severe complications such as perinephric abscess, acute renal failure, renal papillary necrosis, and even death from septic shock. The severity of nephritis also varies, with symptoms ranging from significant proteinuria to mild hematuria. Therefore, a comparison should be based on the specific conditions of the patients. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Liu Sheng

Nephrology

1min 4sec

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How do you get pyelonephritis?

Pyelonephritis is a clinical type of urinary tract infection, which refers to the inflammatory disease caused by the growth and reproduction of various pathogens in the renal pelvis. Pyelonephritis is usually divided into acute pyelonephritis and chronic pyelonephritis. Acute pyelonephritis is primarily characterized by frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, chills, fever, back pain, overall muscle soreness, and tenderness or percussion pain in one or both kidney areas. Chronic pyelonephritis, on the other hand, shows varying degrees of bilateral renal damage, reduced kidney size, rough surfaces, renal papillary scars, renal tubular atrophy, and chronic inflammation signs such as lymphocyte infiltration in the renal interstitium. Chronic pyelonephritis typically presents with low-grade fever, weight loss, backache, and anemia. Therefore, sufficient attention should be given to pyelonephritis, as chronic pyelonephritis can lead to uremia in patients.

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Written by Niu Yan Lin

Nephrology

55sec

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The difference between pyelonephritis and nephritis

Pyelonephritis and nephritis are two completely different diseases. Pyelonephritis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, chlamydia, etc. Treatment generally requires the use of antibiotics. The vast majority of patients can fully recover within two weeks under the treatment of sensitive antibiotics, without any sequelae. On the other hand, nephritis is mostly an autoimmune disease, not an infectious disease caused by pathogens. Therefore, its treatment does not require the use of antibiotics. Treatment usually involves ACE inhibitors or ARB type RUSH blockers, glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, cytotoxic drugs, etc., and the course of nephritis is relatively long, with some patients having relatively poor prognosis. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Liu Sheng

Nephrology

1min 2sec

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How is pyelonephritis treated?

Whether it is the treatment of acute pyelonephritis or chronic pyelonephritis, first of all, personal hygiene should be emphasized, physical fitness should be enhanced, water intake should be increased, and urination should be frequent. In addition, for patients with acute pyelonephritis, the main treatment is the use of sensitive antibiotics, which can be either semi-synthetic penicillin or cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolone antibiotics can also be used. For chronic pyelonephritis, if the patient has urinary anatomical or functional abnormalities, such as the presence of urinary stones or urinary obstruction, active surgical treatment can be considered to relieve the obstruction. Furthermore, patients with chronic pyelonephritis who also have hypertension and edema can appropriately use antihypertensive drugs and diuretics to control blood pressure and edema, which can play a role in protecting kidney function. (The use of medications should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

1min 14sec

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Acute Pyelonephritis Nursing Measures

Acute pyelonephritis, also known as an upper urinary tract infection, is a type of bacterial inflammation. In terms of care, patients should first focus on increasing their fluid intake. If the patient does not have urinary system stones, tumors, or other factors causing urinary obstruction—that is, if there is no kidney hydronephrosis—it is recommended that the patient's daily urine output be maintained at 2000-2500 milliliters. This means increasing fluid intake can help flush the urinary system, reducing bacterial growth and reproduction, which is beneficial for the treatment of pyelonephritis. Secondly, since the patient has acute inflammation, dietary considerations should include eating light, avoiding heavy and greasy foods as well as spicy and stimulating foods, and paying attention to perineal hygiene. Additionally, during episodes of fever, if the patient's body temperature is not very high, a warm water sponge bath can be given, especially focusing on the neck, armpits, and the root of the thighs, which can facilitate heat dissipation and is very beneficial for reducing body temperature.