How long should one with acute nephritis stay in bed for rest?

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on December 17, 2024
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After the onset of acute nephritis, patients should rest in bed for 2-3 weeks until gross hematuria disappears, blood pressure returns to normal, and edema subsides. If the patient's condition is severe, with complications such as high blood pressure, noticeable edema, and significant hematuria, then bed rest should be extended to 4-6 weeks. Bed rest can increase renal blood flow and improve kidney function, which is beneficial for enhancing treatment effectiveness. Gradually, indoor activity can be increased. If the condition does not worsen after 1-2 weeks, the patient may begin outdoor activities. Patients with mild residual proteinuria and microscopic hematuria should be followed up and closely observed without the need for indefinite bed rest. If urine changes worsen again after activity, further bed rest is necessary. For students who develop acute nephritis, it is advisable to take a break from school to ensure enough rest time for recovery.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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How many days does the fever last in acute nephritis?

Generally speaking, acute nephritis itself does not cause fever symptoms in patients. Acute nephritis can cause visible hematuria and an increase in foamy urine. Some patients may also experience a reduction in urine output, severe edema, kidney failure, and other clinical symptoms. However, fever is not a common symptom caused by acute nephritis itself. If such patients develop a fever, it may be due to lung or gastrointestinal infections caused by acute nephritis, as patients with acute nephritis have lowered immune capabilities and are often prone to bacterial infections in other parts of the body, such as coughing and sputum production. In such cases, the patient might have lung inflammation and would require antibiotic treatment to kill the bacteria. Generally, most patients' conditions can be controlled after 10 to 14 days.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Can people with acute nephritis eat beef?

In the acute phase of nephritis, patients are generally required to have a light diet and minimize their protein intake, with their protein intake level being about 80% of that of a normal person. They should primarily consume animal-based proteins, which should account for more than 50% of their intake. This principle is called a high-quality, low-protein diet. Therefore, overall, patients with acute nephritis can eat beef, as it is considered a high-quality protein. However, the amount ingested needs to be limited. The intake of beef should be calculated based on the patient's body weight, with every 100 grams of beef containing 20 grams of protein. The total daily protein intake for patients should be 0.6 to 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight, including both animal and plant proteins. Patients can use the aforementioned data to calculate how much beef they can eat.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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acute nephritis symptoms

Acute nephritis is commonly seen in children and occurs more in males than females. It typically begins one to three weeks after an infection, mainly due to a post-streptococcal infection. The main symptom of acute nephritis is the appearance of edema, which is often an initial manifestation. Typically, this includes swelling of the eyelids in the morning, sometimes accompanied by mild swelling of the lower limbs. In addition, a urinalysis of patients might reveal blood, which can appear as either gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria. Furthermore, some patients with acute nephritis may also experience elevated blood pressure, primarily related to the edema. If managed through diuretic treatment, conditions may gradually return to normal. In severe cases of acute nephritis, symptoms can include dizziness, hypertensive encephalopathy, and even reduced urine output leading to acute kidney failure. Therefore, it is crucial to give significant attention to patients with acute nephritis and treat them actively to avoid severe complications.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Does acute nephritis cause fever?

Acute nephritis is actually a sterile inflammation, with significant proliferation of cells within the glomeruli, primarily related to immune dysfunction. Therefore, from this perspective, acute nephritis does not show symptoms of fever. However, due to the inflammatory response within the glomeruli causing acute nephritis, patients may experience renal failure. In the state of renal failure, the patient's immune capability further decreases, which could lead to complications from infections, with respiratory infections being the most common, including pneumonia, bronchitis, and acute tonsillitis. These inflammations may cause fever, but this fever is not a direct result of the acute nephritis itself.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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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.