Pyelonephritis in children is an inflammatory disease that is very common and is one of the most common infectious diseases in babies after respiratory diseases.
The term "pyelonephritis" is a fusion of the words pyelos, which means "trough," and nephros is a kidney. Therefore, the name reflects the essence - an inflammatory process that affects the renal pelvis and kidney tissue. In young children, it is quite difficult to establish exactly where the lesion is located, which is why they often talk about "urinary tract infections."
Pyelonephritis in children, types of disease
The disease is provoked by intestinal microorganisms, such as cocci and coli bacteria (staphylococcus, streptococcus, intestinal Escherichia, enterococcus, Proteus and others).
Most often, mixed microflora is isolated. Urinary tract infection causes
pyelonephritis. The causes in children and adults of the appearance of this disease are a disturbed outflow of urine, its reverse casting (reflux).
Pyelonephritis in children can be primary and secondary. Primary develop with the normal structure of urological organs. Secondary are observed in children with congenital pathology of the bladder, ureters and kidneys. The defeat can be single or double-sided. The disease is acute, chronic or recurrent.
Acute pyelonephritis with adequate treatment cures in less than 2 months. In the chronic course of the disease, symptoms persist up to six months and exacerbations of the disease are periodically observed.
Pyelonephritis in children, symptoms
Common characteristic symptoms include fever (up to 39 degrees), weakness, lack of appetite, and nausea. An increase in temperature is accompanied by sweating and chills. There is pain in the lumbar region.
Often the disease is accompanied by cystitis or urethritis. In some cases, pyelonephritis in children is asymptomatic. Parents should pay attention to the child’s rapid fatigue, mood swings, pallor, frequent use of the toilet at night.
How to treat pyelonephritis in children?
In the acute period of the disease, various drugs are used (sulfonamide, antibiotics, nitrofuran, nitroxoline), which are prescribed by the attending physician.
In a chronic disease, antibiotic treatment is carried out in courses, under the control of the general condition of the patient and his analyzes. If the cause of pyelonephritis is anomalies of the anatomical structure, the doctor decides on the need for surgical intervention.
The use of phytotherapy, homeopathic remedies and immunomodulatory drugs in the second stage is quite effective. After suffering pyelonephritis, it is recommended to be systematically observed by a specialist doctor. In this case, an ultrasound examination is carried out - once every six months or a year, as well as regular testing.
It must be remembered that pyelonephritis in children often occurs in the presence of a chronic focus of infection. This can be an inflammation of the internal organs, and flu, and even ordinary caries. In this case, pathogenic bacteria are introduced through the blood from the lesion to the kidneys and cause inflammatory processes in them.