Some kidney diseases eg Lupus nephropathy or kidney infection (acute or chronic pyelonephritis) mainly affects women. The first is an autoimmune pathology and the other is mainly bacterial. “If we talk about chronic kidney disease, which is a growing epidemic in the world, its prevalence is similar in both sexes. However, in addition to urinary tract infections, some diseases that affect the kidneys, such as the renal manifestation of lupus, i.e. lupus nephritis, affect women more. According to some studies, the latter can affect up to 89%. Its prevalence is high in Latin America due to genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Regarding urinary tract infections, women suffer from them more than men. Changes in urinary anatomy or PH are some of the factors that make them prone to suffering,” the doctor tells us. Igor RomaniukVitus is a nephrologist at the Valencia 9 de Octobre Hospital, who also indicates that it The risk increases during pregnancy.
Symptoms of kidney disease
With this in mind, the question arises as to what are the warning signs that make us suspect that we may be suffering from kidney disease. “This question is much more complicated than we would like it to be,” Bithus expects the expert. “Given Most kidney involvement is asymptomatic and when symptoms of kidney damage occur Water overload (swelling), Especially in sloping areas such as the legs, or the presence of foamy urine, nausea, dizziness, we are already talking about an advanced stage,” said the doctor, who added that the common thing is a practically asymptomatic clinical picture and the damage is detected through a Blood analysisAs well as a urine test to assess a parameter called the urine albumin-creatinine ratio, an indicator of kidney damage and failure.
“If we talk about urinary tract infections, a clinical picture of dysuria, frequency of urination and urgency of urination, that is, discomfort during urination, little but frequent urination, or a strong desire to urinate, as well as fever, raise a suspicion. Infectious process“, the doctor points out,
Women suffer more from urinary tract infections than men
Poorly treated or untreated urinary tract infection
We ask the specialist whether it is normal to consult with him Poorly treated or untreated recurrent urinary tract infections And confirms that unfortunately it is more frequent than desirable. And it has a lot to do with the wrong use of antibiotics, according to him. “She Misuse of antibiotics In recent decades it has developed many resistant bacteria, therefore, empirical treatment of urinary tract infections without prior culture and an antibiogram, i.e., a deep analysis, is becoming increasingly less effective,” the expert details.
Furthermore, it details that many times a urinary tract infection coincides with a Fungal infectionPrecisely because of changes in the pH of urine. “If both things are not treated, which is why I stress the importance of a proper pretest, we can have recurrent urinary tract infections,” he warns.
On the other hand, when there is Risk factors such as diabetes Or they’re older people, it’s common to have asymptomatic urinary tract infections, with high bacterial loads. The subsequent treatment of each patient requires individualization.
What is pyelonephritis?
Pyelonephritis is a bacterial infection of one or both kidneys that can lead to sepsis and organ failure. This pathology is a common cause of kidney scarring and can cause partial loss of kidney function, which if not treated and detected in time, can lead to chronic kidney disease. It should be noted that, according to professionals, “it is not uncommon to see adolescents as young as 14 in counseling, since Urinary reflux disease “It’s an important cause of CKD.”
As he explains, “in most cases this pathology is the result of poorly cured or untreated recurrent urinary infections that ascend through the urinary tract until it affects the kidneys” and emphasizes that “kidney infections, like most urinary tract infections, are more common in women and during pregnancy Risk increases. To ensure a good outcome, as with most kidney diseases, Diagnosis and treatment are essential“
According to the Spanish Association of Urology (AEU), 75% of patients with pyelonephritis have a history of cystitis, and in 80% of cases the person responsible for cystitis is Escherichia coli bacteria. “For this reason, if you have fever, lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, pain during urination, dark colored urine or frequent urination, even when the bladder is empty, you should contact a professional. It is not uncommon to see recurrent infections due to urinary pH disorders in nephrology consultation,” noted the expert.
© Getty ImagesWhat is Lupus Nephritis?
Lupus nephritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune kidney disease, that is, a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and organs. It occurs when lupus antibodies affect the parts of the kidney responsible for filtering waste, causing a mixed cascade. Inflammation and kidney damage by the immune complex,” explains Dr. Romaniuk.
According to professionals, 9 out of 10 people with lupus are women. “Lupus nephritis can cause permanent kidney damage. At diagnosis, stage IV is the most common, ie, diffuse proliferative nephropathy. It can cause formation. Kidney scar “That prevents them from working properly and damages the kidneys.”
Prevent chronic kidney disease
However, the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the general population is almost as high in women as in men. “The consequences of not detecting chronic kidney disease at a time can be serious. The first is the risk of progressive loss of kidney function that increases. Kidney failure and need for dialysis or transplantation. The second is premature death due to associated cardiovascular disease,” explains the expert. For this reason, you should consult a doctor if you have any symptoms of fatigue, repeated vomiting, nausea or paleness.
Dr. Romaniuk wants to emphasize “the importance of the kidneys to health and knowing that certain healthy habits slow the progression of chronic kidney disease, such as proper Control of hypertension and proteinuria; healthy eating habits; maintain an adequate weight; proper control of blood glucose and lipid changes; Avoid tobacco and excess alcohol and do regular aerobic physical activity.” The disease is asymptomatic, hence the importance of regular visits to a nephrologist.
The consequences of not detecting chronic kidney disease in time can be fatal.
Monitor our kidney health
“Kidney health is something serious,” the doctor said. “We eat healthy and play sports, we take care of our skin and body, but Many times we forget about kidney care. If serious pathologies such as the aforementioned lupus nephritis are not resolved, the damage can be substantial and permanent, that is, chronic kidney disease that will rapidly progress to its end stage, eventually requiring some renal replacement therapy strategy. The patient’s life,” the doctor tells us. And it refers to poorly treated urinary tract infections as well as pyelonephritis, which can lead to kidney scarring with subsequent kidney damage.
“Kidney failure, as it progresses, affects the cardiovascular system, increasing calcification in the arteries of our body, Increases risk of stroke or heart attack. Unfortunately, this is a pathology that is not given the importance it deserves, but its prevalence increases every day. Increased population longevity due to salt, sugar, ultra-processed food intake, abuse of anti-inflammatory drugs, prevalence of diabetes, as well as high blood pressure, chronic pathologies affect the health of our kidneys. away”, he concluded.
