Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis, also known as nephritis or GN, is an ailment that affects the kidneys, wherein its tiny filters, known as glomeruli, which help in cleaning the blood, get damaged or inflamed. This results in red blood cells and protein, which circulate in the blood normally, passing into the urine.

If glomerulonephritis is left untreated or is not responsive to treatment, it could lead to the gradual destruction of the glomeruli. This in turn would lead to the kidneys losing their ability to cleanse the blood, eventually resulting in kidney failure.

Glomerulonephritis can either be acute, which means a sudden inflammation, or it could be chronic, wherein it occurs gradually. Also, glomerulonephritis can either be a disease by itself, known as primary glomerulonephritis or a part of a systematic disease, like diabetes or lupus.

What are the functions of the kidneys?

There are three fundamental things the kidneys do:

• The wastes in the blood are removed by them and the cleaned blood is returned into the body.
• They help in regulating the water levels and various minerals required by the body for optimum health.
• They also produce hormones which help in controlling other functions of the body.

Hence, various other organs in the body are dependent on the kidneys in order to function properly.

Each of our kidneys contains around a million tiny nephrons. Each of these nephrons is made up of glomeruli, which are attached to tubules. The blood is cleaned by these glomeruli by them filtering out waste products, salt, and excess water, while simultaneously preventing red blood cells and protein filtering through into the urine.

What are the causes of glomerulonephritis?

In most of the cases the cause of glomerulonephritis is not known. However, in recent years, many of the causes are becoming known increasingly. For example, it has been known for some time that certain drugs, infections, and sometimes even cancer can result in causing glomerulonephritis. It has also been found that various genetic abnormalities can also be the cause of glomerulonephritis.

However, in most of the cases, the disease is sporadic, meaning that it is caused spontaneously, and not due to it being passed on genetically.

Some evidence suggest that glomerulonephritis could either be caused or made worse due to an impairment of the immune system, which protects the against bacteria and viruses. But if the immune system does not function properly, it could lead to the kidneys getting damaged. An impaired immune system could mistakenly attack the glomeruli, causing them to get inflamed.

One of the common causes of glomerulonephritis in children is due to a streptococcal infection, such as a throat infection or an infection of the upper respiratory system. Glomerulonephritis, in such cases, usually manifests itself over a week after the occurrence of the infection. This is usually referred to as APSGN, or acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis.

What are the symptoms of glomerulonephritis?

The symptoms of glomerulonephritis are usually dependent on whether you have it in its chronic or acute form. The first sign of something being wrong may be because of the results from a routine urinalysis or from the symptoms. The symptoms can include:

• Frothy urine due to protein in the urine, also known as proteinuria
• Brown, rust-colored, or dark urine, indicating red blood cells in it
• Reduced frequency in urination

Symptoms of chronic renal failure, which may develop gradually, may include:

• Unintended weight loss
• Nausea and vomiting
• General feeling of illness
• Headache
  
• Fatigue
• General itching sensation
• Frequent bouts of hiccups
• Urination urge during the night
• Bleeding or bruising easily
• A decrease in alertness
• Lethargy, somnolence, and drowsiness
• Delirium, confusion
• Coma
• Twitching of muscles
• Muscular cramps
• Seizures
• Hyperpigmentation, wherein the skin appears brown or yellow
• Reduced sensation in the feet, hands, or other parts

Some other symptoms linked with this condition are:

• Nosebleed
• Urinating in excessive amounts
• Blood in the stools or vomit
• High blood pressure

Tests in the laboratory may also show anemia or reduction in kidney functioning along with azotemia, which means nitrogenous wastes like urea and creatinine accumulating.

Eventually, symptoms of chronic kidney failure may manifest themselves such as polyneuropathy, edema, and other signs of fluid accumulation including abnormal lung and heart sounds.