Glomerulonephritis
New Jersey Kidney Disease Diagnosis & Treatment
Glomerulonephritis is a type of glomerular kidney disease in which the kidneys' filters become inflamed and scarred, and slowly lose their ability to remove wastes and excess fluid from the blood to make urine. When waste cannot be removed from the body, numerous health complications can occur. You should seek medical attention immediately if you show any symptoms of this condition.
What are the Symptoms of Glomerulonephritis?
These symptoms of glomerulonephritis are very common and should be addressed as soon as possible:
- Fatigue
- High blood pressure
- Swelling in the hands, feed, face, and abdomen
- Blood and protein in urine
- Decreased urine output
Symptoms of glomerulonephritis may not occur until sometime after the kidneys have been damaged, meaning there is no time to wait if you notice any of these side effects. Some of these symptoms could be caused by a different condition, so regardless of the cause it is important to have them examined by a doctor.
How Is Glomerulonephritis Diagnosed?
When you arrive at the physician’s office with symptoms of glomerulonephritis, they will first perform a medical history review and physical examination. If they suspect glomerulonephritis may be the cause of your health issues, the following diagnostic tests may be performed:
- Urinalysis – A lab test of a urine sample to check for any abnormalities, including high protein or the presence of red blood cells.
- Blood tests – Testing blood levels for waste product to determine how well the kidney’s filtering function is working.
- Kidney ultrasound – An imaging test to visually examine the shape and function of the kidneys.
- Kidney biopsy – An extraction of kidney tissue so that it can be lab tested for signs of cancer or other kidney diseases.
How Can Glomerulonephritis Be Treated?
Glomerulonephritis can either be chronic or acute. Acute glomerulonephritis may go away on its own and not require any treatment, but the chronic form will require some type of intervention. In many cases, glomerulonephritis is a side effect of another medical condition such as a strep infection and treatment will depend on the underlying cause.
Treatment for glomerulonephritis may include medication, diet changes, smoking cessation, and other lifestyle changes intended to protect the kidneys from further damage.