What is hydronephrosis?

4 May 2021

It is kidneys inflammation due to the accumulation of urine, as a consequence of various conditions, among which the following stand out:

Ureters obstructed by scar tissue caused by infectious processes, surgical procedures, or radiotherapy.
Enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy causing blockages.
Congenital kidney or urinary tract anomalies.
Vesicoureteral reflux (urine backflow into the kidneys) due to prostatitis, urethral narrowing, or congenital defect.
Kidney stones.
Some types of cancer in various parts of the urinary system.
Bladder nerve involvement.

This condition affects people of any age and can appear suddenly or develop progressively. If not treated promptly, it can seriously damage kidney function to the point of failure. There are two types of hydronephrosis:

Unilateral: when only one kidney is affected.
Bilateral: both kidneys are involved.

Signs and symptoms Hydronephrosis

Pain in the lower back and flank radiating to the groin and belly.
Urinary infections.
Painful urination.
Increased urination frequency.
Urge to urinate.
Nausea.
Vomit.
High fever.

Diagnosis and treatment Hydronephrosis

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and if they suspect that you have hydronephrosis, you will be referred to a urologist to obtain a more accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

The urinary system specialist will request some of the following tests:

Blood test to measure kidney function.
Urine test to identify if some infections or stones cause hydronephrosis.
Kidney and urinary tract ultrasound.
Contrast radiography of the urinary system.
Computed tomography.
MRI.

The indicated treatment will be established based on the direct cause of hydronephrosis and the severity of the case:

Mild: treatment is not usually prescribed; the evolution is monitored hoping that the symptoms disappear by themselves.
Moderate: antibiotics are usually prescribed to prevent any infectious outbreak that complicates the condition.
Serious: renal physiology is severely affected, requiring surgery to remove the obstruction and/or repair damaged structures.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Hydronephrosis

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

medlineplus.gov
mayoclinic.org
msdmanuals.com
hopkinsmedicine.org
topdoctors.es
medigraphic.com
Núñez CAC, Frómeta MCI. Caracterización clínica epidemiológica de los defectos congénitos del tracto genitourinario. Rev Cubana Med Gen Integr. 2020;36(3):1-8.
Rosales-Velázquez CE, Ruvalcaba-Oceguera GE, Zepeda-Aguilar A. Uréter retrocavo: reporte de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía. Rev Mex Urol. 2020;80(3):1-10.
Caravia PI, Sánchez GME, Reyes ARP. Nefrostomía combinada en las obstrucciones del tracto urinario superior. RCU. 2019;8(1):41-44.
Bustamante SN, Bustamante SN, Namugenyi A, et al. Complicaciones de la esquistosomiasis urinaria crónica. RCU. 2020;9(1):2-12.

How can we help you?

The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.

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Comparison of COVID-19 vaccines

Pfizer-
BioNTech

Pfizer-BioNTech

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 95% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

No Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 16 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine such as polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polysorbate.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, malaise, and swollen lymph nodes.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 14 days of having the complete scheme (after the administration of the 2nd dose), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

Moderna

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vaccine type: mRNA
Effectiveness: 94.5% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 28 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

Who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine?
People who should receive the vaccine are those over 18 years old.
People who should not receive the vaccine are those who have a history of anaphylactic shock (severe allergy) or who are allergic to any component of this vaccine.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes in the arm in which you received the injection.

Janssen/
Johnson
& Johnson

Janssen/ Johnson & Johnson

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 72.0% in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.
85% in the prevention of severe COVID-19.

Does not contain egg, latex, or preservatives./strong>

How many doses are needed?
Only one dose in needed.

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, chills, fever, and nausea.

How long will it take for me to be protected and what does it protect me from?
After 28 days of having the complete scheme (the last dose applied), the protection period is still under study. It protects us from 85% serious COVID-19 or requiring hospitalization.

AstraZeneca
and
Oxford
University

AstraZeneca and Oxford University

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 82% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 56 days apart (or up to 84 days apart, if necessary).

What are the possible side effects of the vaccine?
Pain where the injection was given, fatigue, headache, myalgia, arthralgia, and fever, which were mild to moderate in intensity and disappeared within 48 hours of vaccination.

Sputnik V

What is its effectiveness and what does it refer to?

Adenovirus vector-based vaccine.
Effectiveness: 92% after the second dose in the prevention of symptomatic COVID-19.

How many doses are needed?
Two doses are needed, at least 21 days apart (or up to six weeks apart, if necessary).

What is hydronephrosis?

Signs and symptoms Hydronephrosis

Diagnosis and treatment Hydronephrosis

Related centers and departments Hydronephrosis

Fuentes:

Index

Specialist in Hydronephrosis