Is acute nephritis contagious?

Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

Updated on September 29, 2024

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Acute nephritis is not contagious.

Acute nephritis generally occurs after a patient has a bacterial inflammation of the respiratory tract, such as infections by streptococcus, staphylococcus, and other bacteria affecting the respiratory tract, urinary tract, digestive tract, or skin. This leads to a secondary inflammatory response. These inflammatory immune complexes travel through the bloodstream to the kidneys, causing an inflammatory reaction within the organ. It could also be due to the deposition of immune complexes within the glomeruli, leading to glomerular damage.

This disease itself is not contagious. Although these bacteria exist as triggers, they typically do not have the capability to infect other patients. Moreover, even if they were to infect others, it would not necessarily lead to nephritis.

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Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

47sec

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Symptoms of acute nephritis recurrence

When acute nephritis recurs, patients may experience a series of symptoms similar to those at the onset of the disease. Patients may present with hematuria, including visible hematuria in some cases. Due to the presence of a significant amount of protein in the urine, patients may develop edema in parts like the lower limbs and eyelids, and in severe cases, edema can become generalized. The presence of protein in urine also leads to increased urine foam. Some patients may experience acute renal failure, a dramatic decrease in urine output, and gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting. Patients may also develop hypertension and heart failure, among other conditions.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng

Nephrology

1min 7sec

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Symptoms of acute nephritis include back pain.

Patients with acute nephritis usually have hematuria as their main symptom. Initially, the condition presents as gross hematuria, but within 1-2 days, the patient transitions to microscopic hematuria, and the gross hematuria disappears. Patients may also experience edema, particularly noticeable in the eyelids and facial area upon waking up in the morning, along with varying degrees of increased urine protein. Typically, acute nephritis patients may also experience nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, and discomfort in the lower back, but not back pain per se, as back pain is not a symptom of acute nephritis. However, if a patient with acute nephritis does develop back pain, it is crucial to rule out other diseases, such as kidney stones, ureteral stones, acute pyelonephritis, and acute renal infarction, all of which can cause sudden back pain in patients with acute nephritis. Back pain should be taken seriously, and appropriate exams, such as an immediate ultrasound, should be conducted.

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Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

56sec

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Will acute nephritis cause facial swelling?

Acute nephritis can also cause facial swelling in patients. The pathological damage in patients with acute nephritis is the diffuse proliferation of glomerular cells, which reduces the glomeruli's ability to filter blood. As a result, patients may experience proteinuria and hematuria. Decreased kidney function in water excretion can lead to water accumulation in the body, causing edema in the lower limbs or facial area. The increase in urinary protein can also increase vascular permeability and decrease plasma osmotic pressure, leading to the movement of water outside the blood vessels. These factors can all cause edema. In the body, water tends to accumulate in areas where tissues are looser, such as the facial area. Thus, it is possible for patients with acute nephritis to experience facial swelling.

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Written by Zhou Qi

Nephrology

37sec

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Is acute nephritis easy to treat?

In most cases, acute nephritis is not difficult to treat because the disease itself is self-limiting, meaning that acute nephritis can heal naturally within about 3 to 4 weeks. However, acute nephritis can cause some complications, and in severe cases, it may lead to disability or death. Therefore, when patients with acute nephritis develop serious complications, treatment may be relatively difficult or complications such as pulmonary infections, heart failure, and acute renal failure may occur. But with appropriate treatment, most cases are hopeful to be controlled.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng

Nephrology

1min 6sec

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Can acute nephritis be cured completely?

The main cause of acute nephritis is related to streptococcal infections. Many patients with acute nephritis often have a history of infections in the throat, upper respiratory tract, or skin before the onset of the disease. Therefore, once acute nephritis occurs, patients often exhibit hematuria, which can be either gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria. Severe cases of acute nephritis may also show swelling of the eyelids and face, as well as the presence of mild to moderate urinary protein. In addition, some severe cases of acute nephritis also show elevated blood pressure, decreased renal function, and overall poor outcomes from acute nephritis. Currently, there are no specific treatments available; the main approach is bed rest and symptomatic treatment. For example, diuretics can be used if there is edema, and antihypertensive drugs can be used if there is a need to lower blood pressure. If an infection still exists, antibiotics are used for treatment. With proper and standardized treatment, the vast majority of acute nephritis cases can be completely cured without recurrence.