How to treat acute nephritis?

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on November 10, 2024
00:00
00:00

Acute nephritis is commonly seen in children. The most typical clinical manifestations of acute nephritis include macroscopic or microscopic hematuria, increased urinary protein, and varying degrees of edema, particularly noticeable in the eyelids and facial areas. There may also be varying degrees of increased blood pressure, and even renal failure can occur. In terms of treatment, there are no specific drugs for acute nephritis; the main approach is symptomatic and supportive treatment. During the acute phase, patients should rest in bed and receive targeted treatment for their complications. If there is severe edema, diuretics may be used appropriately. If there is a significant increase in blood pressure, antihypertensive drugs should be used to control the pressure. In cases of severe heart failure, palpitations, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, diuretics should also be used to alleviate the cardiac load. If the patient experiences oliguria, hyperkalemia, or acute renal failure, temporary dialysis may be necessary. Furthermore, a low-salt, low-fat, and light diet should be maintained to prevent complications from excessive salt intake causing edema and high blood pressure. (Use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
1min 4sec home-news-image

Acute nephritis clinical manifestations

Acute nephritis is commonly seen in pediatric patients. One to three weeks before the onset of acute nephritis, infections often occur in the throat, upper respiratory tract, and skin. Once acute nephritis occurs, the typical clinical manifestations of the patient are hematuria, which can be gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria. There is also edema, especially noticeable swelling of the eyelids and face after getting up in the morning. Due to the edema and reduced urine output, the patient often experiences a significant increase in blood pressure. Of course, in addition to these clinical manifestations, the patient may also experience irritability, back pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and poor spirit. Patients with acute nephritis can also experience severe complications, such as hypertensive encephalopathy, acute heart failure, acute renal failure, etc. Therefore, acute nephritis must be given sufficient attention and actively treated.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
51sec home-news-image

Sequelae of acute nephritis

Most cases of acute nephritis do not cause complications; generally speaking, acute nephritis is a self-healing disease that can recover on its own. Approximately three to four weeks later, the condition can gradually alleviate, with the patient’s urine protein and occult blood decreasing until they disappear and kidney function returns to normal, and the edema can also subside, so generally there won’t be any complications. However, there are a minority of patients whose conditions are prolonged and do not heal, and if the patient's condition persists for three months or even half a year without recovery, it might evolve into chronic nephritis. Also, some patients may experience severe kidney failure, heart failure, and pulmonary infections during acute nephritis, leading to severe consequences. The likelihood of these situations occurring is relatively low.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
1min home-news-image

What are the symptoms of acute nephritis?

Acute nephritis is commonly seen in children. Most cases of acute nephritis are preceded by a history of streptococcal infection one to three weeks before the onset. Once acute nephritis occurs, the main symptoms include the development of edema, especially swelling of the eyelids and face after waking up in the morning. Additionally, patients with acute nephritis will also experience hematuria, which can be visible or microscopic, with increased foam in the urine and a change in color, and even a decrease in urine output. Of course, patients with severe acute nephritis will also experience a significant increase in blood pressure, leading to nausea, vomiting, headaches, palpitations, chest tightness, shortness of breath, and an inability to lie flat, resulting in heart failure. Therefore, patients with acute nephritis need to undergo reasonable and standardized treatment to avoid complications.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
56sec home-news-image

Early symptoms of acute nephritis

The occurrence of acute nephritis is related to streptococcal infections and is commonly seen in children. Typically, 1-3 weeks before the onset of acute nephritis, patients often have a history of infections in the throat, upper respiratory tract, or skin. Once acute nephritis occurs, the initial symptoms include hematuria, which can manifest as either gross or microscopic hematuria. There is also the appearance of edema, especially noticeable swelling of the eyelids and facial area upon waking up in the morning, and even a decrease in urine output. Additionally, patients with acute nephritis often experience increased foam in the urine, indicating the presence of proteinuria, as well as general weakness, back pain, nausea, and vomiting. After the onset of acute nephritis, some patients may experience elevated blood pressure and even transient renal failure.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
55sec home-news-image

Symptoms of Acute Nephritis

Acute nephritis may present with some clinical symptoms. The main characteristics are that patients may have hematuria and proteinuria. When there is a significant amount of blood in the urine, it can be detected by the naked eye, known as gross hematuria. For instance, the color of the patient's urine could be dark like strong tea or bright red. Patients might also experience increased urine foam due to the presence of proteins in the urine, especially in cases where there is a significant presence of urinary proteins. A minority of patients may experience acute renal failure, often characterized by reduced urine output, or even anuria. Due to the reduced urine output, the water intake of patients cannot be fully excreted, leading to edema. Patients may experience swelling of the facial and bilateral lower limbs or even the whole body.