- Main symptoms
- Possible causes of hydronephrosis
- How the treatment is done
- Possible complications of hydronephrosis
Hydronephrosis is the dilation of the kidney that happens when urine cannot pass to the bladder and therefore accumulates inside the kidney. When this happens, the kidney cannot function normally and, thus, its function decreases, and there may be a risk of developing kidney failure.
Generally, hydronephrosis appears as a complication of another disease, such as kidney stones or a tumor in the urinary tract, and it is recommended to consult the nephrologist or general practitioner to identify the cause of the problem and initiate appropriate treatment, in order to avoid more serious sequelae.
In most cases, hydronephrosis affects only one kidney, but it is also possible to suffer from bilateral hydronephrosis, in which symptoms can appear more quickly and be more intense, since both kidneys are affected.
Main symptoms
The first symptoms of hydronephrosis are milder and usually include an urge to urinate frequently and a sudden urge to urinate. However, over time, other signs may appear, such as:
- Constant pain in the upper abdomen and back; Nausea and vomiting; Pain when urinating; Feeling of full bladder even after urinating; Difficulty urinating; Reduction in urine volume; Low fever.
In addition, people with hydronephrosis are also at increased risk of developing urinary infections, which are accompanied by other symptoms such as burning when urinating, cloudy urine, back pain and chills, for example. See a more complete list of urinary tract infection symptoms.
Whenever a urinary problem is suspected, it is important to go to the gynecologist, nephrologist or urologist to do diagnostic tests, such as ultrasound, urine test or blood test, to identify a possible cause and start the appropriate treatment.
Possible causes of hydronephrosis
Hydronephrosis usually arises when there is a blockage in the ureters, which are the channels that carry urine from the kidney to the bladder, preventing the passage of urine. Some situations that can cause this block are kidney stones, tumors in the urinary tract or enlarged prostate in men, for example.
In addition, hydronephrosis is also very frequent during pregnancy, as the growth of the fetus inside the uterus can end up pressing the urinary tract and preventing the passage of urine, which starts to accumulate inside the kidney.
How the treatment is done
The treatment for hydronephrosis consists of removing the accumulated urine and eliminating the cause of the disease, so that the urine can flow freely to the bladder and leave the kidney, reducing the swelling. Thus, treatment may vary according to the cause of hydronephrosis:
- Kidney stone: the doctor may recommend ultrasound therapy or surgery to remove the stone, depending on the size; Prostate enlargement in men: a small network can be placed inside the urinary tract to relieve the pressure caused by the prostate and allow the flow of urine; Urinary infections: can be treated only with the use of an antibiotic, such as Ciprofloxacino.
In the case of tumors, it may be necessary to have surgery to remove the mass, in addition to the need for treatment with chemo or radiotherapy, for example. Understand better how a bladder tumor is treated.
Normally, the kidney recovers in about 6 weeks after the start of treatment, and there is no risk of further damage to the organ other than those that have already arisen by the time the treatment was started.
Possible complications of hydronephrosis
When hydronephrosis is not treated properly, the swelling of the kidney causes small damages that hinder the functioning of the organ. Thus, over time, imbalances of important minerals in the body can arise, as well as severe kidney infections and a high risk of developing kidney failure.
