Nephritis
Nephritis is the
inflammation
of the kidneys. It is a serious condition and may be either acute or
chronic.
This disease often strikes during childhood or adolescence. It can
become
progressively worse and result in death, if not treated properly in the
initial stages. In the alternative, it may subside into a chronic stage
where the patient gets better but not too well.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of
acute
nephritis are pain in the kidneys extending down to the uterus, fever,
dull pain in the back and scanty and highly colored urine. Often the
urine
may contain blood, albumin and casts consisting of clumps of red and
white
cells, which come from damaged kidneys. The patient suffers from
puffiness
in the face and swelling of the feet and ankles.
In the chronic
stage of nephritis,
which may drag on for many years, the patient passes large amounts of
albumin
in the urine. Later there may be rise in blood pressure and the patient
may develop uremia. There may be frequent urination, especially during
night.
Causes
Nephritis usually
follows
some streptococcus infection of the throat or an attack of scarlet
fever
or rheumatic fever. The underlying causes of nephritis are the same as
for diseases of the kidneys namely wrong dietary habits, excessive
drinking,
the suppressive medical treatment of former diseases, the habitual use
of chemical agents of all kinds for the treatment of indigestion and
other
stomach disorders and frequent use of aspirin and other painkillers.
Nutritional
deficiencies
can also lead to nephritis. The disease has been produced in many
species
of animals by diets deficient in the B vitamin, chlorine. Animals
lacking
essential fatty acids and magnesium also develop nephritis. When
vitamin
B6 and magnesium are under supplied, the kidneys are further damaged by
sharp crystals of oxalic acid combined with calcium. Nephritis also
occurs
if vitamin E is deficient.
Treatment
|