Acute Interstitial Nephritis is a common kidney disorder that causes swelling or inflammation in the kidney. The disease is often linked with certain infections, drug therapies or it may be caused by some unknown agent. Acute Interstitial Nephritis, if not treated properly, may lead to complete loss of kidney function and can be life threatening.
Swelling of the kidneys can lead to a number of symptoms that include:
Fever
Rash
Body ache
Feelings of Nausea or vomiting
Loss of appetite
Fatigue and weakness
Problems in sleeping patterns
Changes in the urinate quantity
Muscle cramps
Swelling of the limbs
Itching and irritation on the skin
High blood pressure
Causes
Acute Interstitial Nephritis may be caused by:
Drug Allergies
Kidney Infections
Deficiency of potassium in the blood.
Presence of excessive calcium or uric acid in the blood.
Diagnosis
The doctor diagnoses the disease by conducting a kidney biopsy, which gives information about the inflammation in the kidneys. An analysis of the urine tells about the specialized white blood cells which are visible in allergic reactions. The doctor may even conduct a gallium scan which detects the areas of infection.
Complete blood count test
Blood urea nitrogen test
Blood creatinine test
Blood gas test
Urine test
Kidney Biopsy
Treatments
Ant-inflammatory drugs
Anti-inflammatory medicines might be used for reducing the swelling in the kidneys.
Restricting the intake of certain drugs
Restricting the intake of medicines like antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors that cause Acute Interstitial Nephritis brings quick relief.
Limiting salt intake
Reducing the intake of salt and fluid in the diet can relieve the inflammation and the high blood pressure.
Prevention
Acute Interstitial Nephritis, in most cases, can’t be prevented. Limiting the use of medicines that lead to this disease help in reducing the risk factors.
