Acute Nephritis Treatment Options
Acute nephritis is a serious condition that causes swelling and inflammation in the kidneys and bladder. While this condition can be painful, if it is caught and treated early enough, acute nephritis typically responds pretty well to treatment efforts. This does not mean each type of acute nephritis is curable, but even the incurable forms can have their symptom severity reduced through proper medical diagnosis and treatment. The most common treatments for the different types of acute nephritis include receiving dialysis, taking nutritional supplements, taking prescribed medication, getting your best rest each night, and making significant dietary changes. Start reading to learn more now.
Dialysis
Individuals dealing with seriously impaired kidney functions due to acute nephritis often have to undergo dialysis. During this procedure, a patient is hooked up to a computerized machine that does what the kidneys can no longer do by filtering the excess waste from your bloodstream. These specialized machines work to keep your electrolytes and fluids in balance while receiving treatment. Several different types are available and depend on what kind of kidney damage is present. This can be just a temporary treatment, but more profound cases of acute nephritis might require long-term (even permanent) treatment.
Supplements
Everyone has electrolytes in their bodies. Potassium, magnesium, and sodium are all electrolytes the body requires for specific chemical processes. When kidneys stop working the way they are supposed to, these electrolytes might become imbalanced. When your body's electrolyte levels dip too low, your doctor might recommend taking phosphorus or potassium supplements to boost them. Even if you buy an over-the-counter brand of supplementation, your doctor should know you are taking them so they can monitor your electrolytes.
Medication
Doctors will often prescribe different medications to try to treat acute nephritis, the most common being antibiotics. Antibiotics in pill form tend to work the best with mild to moderate cases, and more serious cases might require hospitalization for intravenous (IV) antibiotics, which can be somewhat more potent and act more quickly against the acute nephritis. Pain relievers might also be required to help alleviate some of the painful symptoms that can develop in the pelvis, back, and sides. Corticosteroids are also sometimes prescribed as a way to help reduce the amount of inflammation in the kidneys or bladder..
Bed Rest
Getting enough bed rest is important when dealing with acute nephritis. Plenty of bed rest is in order since your body needs to re-energize and heal itself. In most cases, doctors will recommend patients stay on bed rest for short periods of time until their bodies show signs of healing. This does not necessarily mean you will have to quit your job or never do your favorite activities again. Once your body has made some progress, your doctor might recommend light exercise to improve kidney function, including trying yoga, which some studies have found might help improve kidney conditions, such as acute nephritis.
Dietary Changes
It is hard to know what kind of dietary changes you should make to help combat acute nephritis symptoms. The one thing almost any doctor will recommend is getting plenty of fluids, as increasing water consumption will prevent dehydration and allow the kidneys to filter out waste better. As far as food goes, if your kidneys are impaired, your doctor might want you to start on a low potassium diet. They might even recommend you leach (or soak) your high-potassium vegetables before you eat them, as this can reduce potassium in the food. You might also need to avoid foods high in sodium since this can cause kidneys to hold water and increase blood pressure.