How to Treat Swelling Kidney
Hydronephrosis or kidney swelling is a condition when there is a buildup of urine in one or both kidneys. This condition occurs because urine cannot flow into the bladder. Then how to treat swelling kidney? Check out the explanation here.
The way the kidneys work is basically filtering metabolic waste substances and toxins from the blood which is then disposed of with the rest of the body fluids in the form of urine. Urine will be flowed through the ureter to the bladder which is then accommodated until urinate.
However, if there is a blockage in the ureter, the process can be disrupted. This blockage makes urine unable to come out or can even go back up to the kidneys. As a result, the kidneys become full of urine and eventually the kidneys become swollen.
Swollen Kidney Symptoms
Kidney swelling can occur in one kidney or even in both kidneys. In addition, swollen kidney conditions do not only occur in adults, but can also occur in babies. Swollen kidney conditions in babies can even be seen when the baby is not yet born through ultrasound examination.
Swollen kidneys don't always show symptoms. If symptoms do appear, they can progress quickly. Some of the symptoms that may appear when experiencing swollen kidneys are as follows:
- Frequent urination due to increased urge to urinate
- Pain when urinating
- Weak urine flow
- Urine cannot be expelled completely
- There is blood in the urine
- Pain in the back, pelvis, or abdomen
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fever
Causes of Swollen Kidneys
The cause of swollen kidneys in each person is different depending on his age. Well, here are some causes of swollen kidneys based on age.
Causes of swollen kidneys in adults
Usually swollen kidneys that occur in adults are caused by the following health problems:
- Kidney stone disease, stones that form in the kidney can block the ureter
- Narrowing of the ureter
- Blood clots in the kidneys or ureters
- Infection or cancer in the urinary system
- Damage to the nerves that control bladder function
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
- Pregnancy
What causes swollen kidneys in babies
What causes swollen kidneys in unborn babies? Swollen kidneys that occur in unborn babies are still not known for certain. However, it is suspected that the baby produces more urine late in the womb, causing his kidneys to become swollen.
In addition, swollen kidneys that occur in infants can also be caused by the following:
- There is a blockage or narrowing of the urinary tract
- Vesicoureteral reflux is a condition where the valves that control the flow of urine from the ureters to the bladder fail to function. This condition can also cause urine to flow back into the kidneys.
How to Treat Swelling Kidney
How to treat swollen kidneys in each person is different, depending on age, what causes swollen kidneys and the severity.
To be able to determine the cause of swollen kidneys, a physical examination and supporting examinations are needed by a doctor, such as blood tests and urine tests to assess kidney function, kidney ultrasound, and special x-rays of the urinary tract called cystourethrography.
Adults who suffer from severe swollen kidneys are usually recommended by doctors to undergo urinary catheterization as an initial treatment step. This procedure aims to excrete urine in the kidneys, reduce pain that occurs due to swelling of the kidneys and prevent further kidney damage.
Swollen kidneys in adults
After undergoing a urinary catheterization procedure, the doctor will then treat swollen kidneys based on the cause, such as:
- Giving antibiotics to reduce the risk of urinary tract infections because urine is difficult to pass
- Providing chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for cancer patients in the urinary tract
- Perform surgical removal of kidney stones in patients with kidney stone disease
- Installing a small tube (stent) in a patient who has ureteral narrowing
- Performing surgical removal of the prostate in patients with prostate swelling
The occurrence of swollen kidneys due to pregnancy usually does not require special treatment. This is because the condition can improve within a few weeks after giving birth.
Swollen kidneys in babies
Usually swollen kidneys in infants can improve on their own as the baby ages. However, swollen kidneys in babies still need to get a complete examination and regular monitoring from the doctor.
If the baby's swollen kidneys don't improve or there are congenital abnormalities in the urinary tract, then giving antibiotics and surgery can be an option.
Swollen kidneys are a dangerous condition for the body's health. Therefore, take good care of the kidneys by living a healthy lifestyle, meeting fluid intake, eating healthy foods, maintaining an ideal body weight, keeping blood pressure within normal limits, quitting smoking, and avoiding the consumption of alcoholic beverages.
That's an explanation of how to treat swelling kidney. If you experience symptoms associated with kidney disease, then immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
