What is pyelonephritis
Acute pyelonephritis affects the kidney and the renal pelvis, and generally manifests itself with impaired general health. The therapeutic management of the disease is based on hydration and antibiotic therapy , with the aim of eliminating the condition favoring renal infection; in the most serious forms hospitalization is necessary.
Prevention
The first form of prevention of acute pyelonephritis is based on the following actions:
- therapy, able to eradicate any urinary infection that occurs acutely;
- elimination of any obstruction to urine outflow (kidney stones, stenosis ...);
- correction of vesico-ureteral reflux;
- limitation of other predisposing factors.
In women with at least three symptomatic infections over the course of a year, a prophylactic treatment with an oral antibiotic should be considered: a low dosage can help eliminate the incidence of a possible relapsing infection. For children, the current orientation reserves antibiotic prophylaxis only for those who are at higher risk of complications (for example: evidence of vesico-ureteral reflux, recurrent infections or the appearance of renal scars). Reducing the risk of pyelonephritis is possible, paying attention to some details:
- Treat daily hygiene to prevent the entry of bacteria and to prevent the spread of bacteria from the perianal region to the vaginal vestibule and to the urethra. Avoid using products in the genital area, such as deodorant sprays or vaginal cleaners that can cause irritation.
- Catheters : in the particular situation in which it is necessary to use these devices it is important that the necessary safety measures are respected, during regular replacement and handling. Furthermore, the area around the catheter must be monitored and cleaned frequently.
- Kidney stones: mineral salts are often found in patients with kidney infections. Performing a specific examination and a visit to a urologist can allow the most accurate evaluation of the case and prevent any recurrent infections.
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water and cranberry juice: it can help remove urinary tract bacteria, increasing the frequency of urination. Coffee and alcohol should be avoided, as they can aggravate the urgent need to urinate and promote dehydration.
- Urinate frequently : avoid holding urination when you feel the need to urinate; moreover, it is important to empty the bladder immediately after sexual intercourse, as this favors the removal of any bacteria that may have been introduced during sexual activity.
In people suffering from recurrent urinary tract infections, further investigations may identify an anatomical-functional anomaly. Occasionally, surgery is necessary in such patients to reduce the likelihood of relapse. As for nutrition, there is no specific diet to follow. In cases of acute pyelonephritis it is important to note that some symptoms, such as nausea and vomiting, create poor appetite and can contribute to becoming dehydrated or in a state of weakness, as it can be difficult to maintain adequate nutrition. American cranberry juice has been studied as a prophylactic measure: many studies suggest the clear benefit of its ingestion.
Increasing fluid intake, consumption of cranberry juice and dairy products containing probiotic bacteria have shown efficacy in inhibiting, directly or indirectly, infection and / or adhesion of bacteria to tract epithelial cells urinary, reducing the rate of recurrence of infections in the urinary tract and the renal system.
In short. Infections of the urinary system and bilberry.
The use of cranberry juice, or Cranberry ( Vaccinum macrocarpon, cranberry), is one of the potential solutions that can complement conventional therapeutic procedures. The mechanism of action is linked to the content of proanthocyanidins, which selectively inhibit the adhesins produced by the bacteria, preventing the pathogens from adhering to the urinary mucosa and colonizing it. In the literature, encouraging data are emerging on the use of Cranberry in the prevention of urinary system infections, despite the difficulties of a comparative evaluation among the various studies due to differences in the population examined, in the pharmaceutical forms used (concentrated juice, tablets, capsules). ...) and in the daily dosage. Studies show that daily consumption of bilberry, in tablets or in liquid form, prevents infections caused in particular by? ™ Escherichia coli in young women. However, further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of Cranberry and its tolerability in adults and in children.
Acute and chronic pyelonephritis
Most cases of acute pyelonephritis are sudden and limited to a single episode. Permanent kidney damage is rare after antibiotic therapy. In general, subjects do not develop relapses of pyelonephritis.
Chronic (long-lasting) pyelonephritis is a rare condition and is usually caused by congenital structural defects of the kidney or by recurrent kidney infections, due to particularly aggressive pathogens resistant to therapeutic treatments.
