Glomerulonephritis is an infection in the filters of the kidneys. Doctors consider it as inflamed glomeruli (kidney filters). The most important function these filters play is removing excess waste and fluid from the blood and expelling these impurities out of the body through urine. Glomerulonephritis is of two types, chronic and acute. The sudden onset of glomerulonephritis is known as acute glomerulonephritis. The gradual development of the glomerulus in the kidneys is called chronic glomerulonephritis.
Cause of Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis inflammation is caused by various infections, autoimmune diseases, sclerosis of kidney tubules, other medical conditions involving Inflammation of blood vessels, genetic causes, etc.
Infections
The after-effects of some bacterial infections like streptococcus lead to glomerulonephritis.
Streptococcus bacteria infect the throat and skin of children and can reside in kidneys leading to Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
As a person recovers from streptococcal disease and infections by other species of Streptococcal genera, he or she might get glomerulonephritis within 2-3 weeks after the recovery period.
How Inflammation Occurs in the Kidneys’ glomeruli?
Inflammation of glomeruli occurs as the bacteria starts reproducing its colonies in the kidneys’ glomeruli. Streptococcus genera are the most common bacteria that haunt children predominantly as compared to adults.
- 1. Viruses that infect kidneys cause viral kidney infections and lead to glomerulonephritis
Some viruses like hepatitis B and C infects the kidneys and leads to inflamed glomeruli condition called glomerulonephritis. This Inflammation can also spread to other regions of the kidneys and thus result in Inflammation of the complete kidneys.
- 2. Bacteria that infect the heart can lead to glomerulonephritis:
Bacterial endocarditis is the most common heart valve infection caused by bacteria. In this condition, the bacteria, usually belonging to the genera staphylococcus aureus and rarely brucella and listeria, resides in the lining of blood vessels of the heart and reproduces there, feeding on the blood and infecting the whole blood in circulation. In this way, the bacterial colonies reach the glomeruli of the kidneys and infect those areas.
- 3. HIV can also lead to glomerulonephritis:
Human immunodeficiency virus causes AIDS and leads to Inflammation of the kidneys called glomerulonephritis. This autoimmune disorder also causes progressive damage to the kidneys.
- Autoimmune disorders
Diseases that lead to distorted immune systems attacking healthy tissues. Chronic inflammation, including lupus, Goodpasture’s syndrome, and IgA nephropathy, are autoimmune disorders that can also lead to severe damage to the kidneys and Inflammation of glomerulonephritis.
- A. Lupus or medically known as systemic lupus erythematosus, affects kidneys, bones, joints, blood cells, heart, and lungs.
- B. IgA nephropathy: An antibody infection that can lead to glomerulonephritis is immunoglobulin A nephropathy. When these antibodies accumulate in the kidney, it is not detected initially for a long time, but after some time, people show blood in urine which is a sign that the person is infected with IgA nephropathy.
- C. Goodpasture’s syndrome: It is also called an anti-GBM disorder, which occurs when the immune system develops antibodies that attack its own body tissues, including lungs, kidneys, etc. This condition may also lead to progressive or permanent kidney damage.
- 5. Inflamed blood vessels lead to Vasculitis: Vasculitis is a medical condition for Inflammation of blood-carrying tubes called vessels. Two forms of Vasculitis can lead to glomerulonephritis, which include:
- B. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
- 6. Sclerotic conditions: Sclerosis of blood vessels can also lead to scarring of glomeruli and cause poor filtration of blood in the kidneys.
- A. Increased blood pressure
- B. Diabetic nephropathy
- C. Focal segmental – glomerulosclerosis
-
- Other causes for glomerulonephritis
Hierarchical reason- the chronic glomerulonephritis condition runs in families.
Cancers– Glomerulonephritis might lead to lymphocytic leukaemia, gastric cancer, and lung cancer.
Are there different types of glomerulonephritis?
Yes, there are two types of glomerulonephritis. The sudden onset of glomerulonephritis is known as acute glomerulonephritis. The gradual development of the glomerulus in the kidneys is called chronic glomerulonephritis.
How is a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis made?
Glomerulonephritis is diagnosed through various diagnostic imaging methods, these include,
The above-given diagnostic measures can also be used to diagnose other Kidney inflammations.
Can glomerulonephritis be prevented?
Yes, glomerulonephritis can be prevented by some dietary measures and other preventive measures, including safe sex. Infections must be prevented for a healthy lifestyle. Some important preventive measures for preventing infections are as follows;
- 1. Low salt diet to avoid hypertension
- 2. Say no to processed foods
- 3. Unhygienic practices to be avoided
- 4. If you are diagnosed with some autoimmune disorder, you must take immunosuppressants to avoid glomerulonephritis.
- 5. Avoid intravenous drugs
-
What are three 3 risk factors for glomerulonephritis?
3 risk factors for glomerulonephritis:
- 1. Streptococcal bacterial infections
- 2. Autoimmune disorders
- 3. Vasculitis
-
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.1. What is glomerulonephritis?
Glomerulonephritis is an infection in the filters of the kidneys. Doctors consider it as inflamed glomeruli (kidney filters). The most important function these filters play is the removal of excess waste and fluid from the blood and the exit of these impurities from the body through urine. Glomerulonephritis is of two types, chronic and acute. The sudden onset of glomerulonephritis is known as acute glomerulonephritis. The gradual development of the glomerulus in the kidneys is called chronic glomerulonephritis.
Q.2. What is the cause of glomerulonephritis?
Glomerulonephritis inflammation is caused by various infections, autoimmune diseases, sclerosis of kidney tubules, other medical conditions involving Inflammation of blood vessels, genetic causes, etc.
- 1. Infections- The after-effects of some bacterial infections like streptococcus leads to glomerulonephritis.
- A. Streptococcus infection: Streptococcus bacteria infect the throat and skin of children and can reside in kidneys leading to Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. As a person recovers from streptococcal disease and infection of Streptococcal genera, he or she might get glomerulonephritis within 2-3 weeks after the recovery period.
- B. Viral infection: Viruses that infect kidneys cause viral kidney infections and lead to glomerulonephritis. Some viruses like hepatitis B and C infects the kidneys and leads to inflamed glomeruli condition called glomerulonephritis. This Inflammation can also spread to other regions of the kidneys and thus result in Inflammation of the complete kidneys.
- C. Bacteria that infect the heart can lead to glomerulonephritis: Bacterial endocarditis is the most common heart valve infection caused by bacteria. In this condition, the bacteria, usually belonging to the genera staphylococcus aureus and rarely brucella and listeria, resides in the lining of blood vessels of the heart and reproduces there, feeding on the blood and infecting the whole blood in circulation. In this way, the bacterial colonies reach the glomeruli of the kidneys and infect those areas.
- D. HIV can also lead to glomerulonephritis: Human immunodeficiency virus causes AIDS and leads to Inflammation of the kidneys, called glomerulonephritis. This autoimmune disorder also causes progressive damage to the kidneys.
-
- 2. Autoimmune disorders
Diseases that lead to distorted immune systems attacking healthy tissues. Chronic inflammation, including lupus, Goodpasture’s syndrome, and IgA nephropathy, are autoimmune disorders that can also lead to severe damage to the kidneys and Inflammation of glomerulonephritis.
- A. Lupus or medically known as systemic lupus erythematosus, affects kidneys, bones, joints, blood cells, heart, and lungs.
- B. IgA nephropathy: An antibody infection that can lead to glomerulonephritis is immunoglobulin A nephropathy. When these antibodies accumulate in the kidney, it is not detected initially for a long time, but after some time, people show blood in urine which is a sign that the person is infected with IgA nephropathy.
- C. Goodpasture’s syndrome: It is also called an anti-GBM disorder, which occurs when the immune system develops antibodies that attack its own body tissues, including lungs, kidneys, etc. This condition may also lead to progressive or permanent kidney damage.
- 3. Vasculitis: Inflamed blood vessels lead to Vasculitis
Vasculitis is a medical condition for Inflammation of blood-carrying tubes called vessels. Two forms of Vasculitis can lead to glomerulonephritis, which include:
- A. Polyarteritis
- B. Granulomatosis with polyangiitis.
- 4. Sclerotic conditions
Sclerosis of blood vessels can also lead to scarring of glomeruli and cause poor filtration of blood in the kidneys.
- A. Increased blood pressure
- B. Diabetic nephropathy
- C. Focal segmental – glomerulosclerosis
-
- 5. Other causes for glomerulonephritis
Hierarchical reason – the chronic glomerulonephritis condition runs in families.
Cancers– Glomerulonephritis might lead to lymphocytic leukaemia, gastric cancer, and lung cancer.
Q.3. Are there different types of glomerulonephritis?
Yes, there are two types of glomerulonephritis. The sudden onset of glomerulonephritis is known as acute glomerulonephritis. The gradual development of the glomerulus in the kidneys is called chronic glomerulonephritis.
Q.4. How is a diagnosis of glomerulonephritis made?
Glomerulonephritis is diagnosed through various diagnostic imaging methods, these include,
- 1. X-ray
- 2. Ultrasound exam
- 3. CT scan
- 4. Kidney biopsy
-
The above-given diagnostic measures can also be used to diagnose other Kidney inflammations.
Q.4. Can glomerulonephritis be prevented?
Yes, glomerulonephritis can be prevented by some dietary measures and other preventive measures, including safe sex. Infections must be prevented for a healthy lifestyle. Some important preventive measures for preventing infections are as follows;
- 1. Low salt diet to avoid hypertension
- 2. Say no to processed foods
- 3. Unhygienic practices to be avoided
- 4. If you are diagnosed with some autoimmune disorder, you must take immunosuppressants to avoid glomerulonephritis.
- 5. Avoid intravenous drugs
-
Q.5. What are three 3 risk factors for glomerulonephritis?
3 risk factors for glomerulonephritis:
- 1. Streptococcal bacterial infections
- 2. Autoimmune disorders
- 3. Vasculitis
-
Q.6. How Inflammation Occurs in the Kidneys’ glomeruli?
Inflammation of glomeruli occurs as the bacteria starts reproducing its colonies in the kidneys’ glomeruli. Streptococcus genera are the most common bacteria that haunt children predominantly as compared to adults.
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