Condition Lookup
Category:
Infections and Infectious Conditions
Number of Conditions: 2
Pyelonephritis (Acute and Chronic)
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Infections and Infectious Conditions
Symptoms:
fever; chills; flank pain; nausea; vomiting; painful urination; frequent urination; cloudy or foul-smelling urine; fatigue
Root Cause:
Infection of the kidney, often caused by ascending bacterial infection from the bladder, typically due to E. coli or other uropathogens.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urinalysis (showing pyuria, bacteriuria, hematuria), urine culture, blood tests (e.g., elevated white blood cell count), imaging studies (e.g., ultrasound or CT scan if complications are suspected).
Treatment:
Antibiotics are the primary treatment. Severe cases may require hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics and supportive care. Chronic pyelonephritis may need surgical correction of underlying anatomical issues.
Medications:
Acute cases
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Common in sexually active women, with higher rates in those with recurrent urinary tract infections. Chronic cases are rare and often associated with anatomical abnormalities or obstruction.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Female gender, pregnancy, recurrent UTIs, diabetes, urinary tract obstruction, vesicoureteral reflux, catheterization.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Excellent with timely treatment; chronic cases may lead to kidney scarring and impaired function.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Sepsis, renal abscesses, chronic kidney disease, hypertension.
Tuberculosis of the Kidney
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Infections and Infectious Conditions
Sub-category: Tuberculosis
Symptoms:
persistent flank pain; hematuria (blood in urine); dysuria (painful urination); fever; night sweats; weight loss
Root Cause:
Reactivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection within the kidney, often secondary to pulmonary tuberculosis.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Urine culture for acid-fast bacilli, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for M. tuberculosis, imaging (CT or ultrasound showing calcifications, strictures, or cavitations).
Treatment:
Antitubercular therapy (ATT) using a combination of first-line drugs, typically for 6-9 months.
Medications:
Rifampin , isoniazid , pyrazinamide , ethambutol . These are classified as antitubercular drugs.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Relatively rare in developed countries but more common in regions with high rates of tuberculosis.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
History of pulmonary tuberculosis, immunosuppression, HIV infection, diabetes.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Good with prompt and appropriate treatment. Delayed treatment may lead to chronic kidney damage.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic kidney disease, renal failure, strictures in the urinary tract, and infertility in severe cases.