Kidney Failure
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Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis is a condition in which the glomeruli, the tiny filters in the kidney, become inflamed. If left untreated, the kidneys may be so severely damaged that they lose their filtering capacity completely. It is the second most common cause of kidney failure after diabetic nephropathy.
Autoimmune causes
- Lupus: This autoimmune disease can cause chronic inflammation in the kidneys and other parts of the body
- IgA nephropathy: IgA is an antibody produced to fight infections. If too much IgA proteins are deposited in the kidneys, it can inflame the kidney filters and impair their function.
- Goodpasture’s syndrome: This is a rare autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the lungs and kidneys.
Infectious causes
Untreated strep throat or skin infections caused by Streptococcus bacteria may trigger a sudden bout of
acute glomerulonephritis.
The body normally produces antibodies to combat infections. Untreated infections may stimulate an overproduction of antibodies. When these get deposited in the kidney filters, they can cause inflammation leading to glomerulonephritis.
Signs & Symptoms
Blood in urine
Foam in urine
(Protein leakage)
Dark
or pink-coloured
Urine
Decreased urine output
Swelling
Nausea and vomiting