Hydronephrosis: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Kidneys remove toxins from the bloodstream and pass them from the body as urine. In some cases, Kidneys get affected and one of them is Hydronephrosis. So, basically, Hydronephrosis is a condition in which the kidney swells up due accumulation of urine. This medical condition can occur due to many reasons. This can affect one or both kidneys. Hydronephrosis can be mild or severe because it depends on various symptoms and causes. We will let you know the symptoms, causes, and treatment of Hydronephrosis which is also known as Kidney Swelling. 

Symptoms of Hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis symptoms depend on the seriousness of the condition and its cause of it. Many experts also find out that in a few cases, Hydronephrosis may not cause any symptoms. But in most cases hydronephrosis has symptoms. Some of the symptoms of hydronephrosis are listed here- 

Painful Urination and Back Pain – Among the most common symptoms of hydronephrosis back pain is also one of them. Back pain which occurs due to hydronephrosis may be dull, aching, or sharp. It happens frequently and can be more at the side where the affected kidney is located. Not only this but due to hydronephrosis you can feel irritation in the urinary tract and it also causes pain during urination. It can also cause people to urinate more frequently than usual, which means Frequent urination symptoms also appear. 

Blood in Urine – Blood in the urine shows that there might be a blockage in the urinary tract or a kidney infection. This condition is also known as hematuria. 

Urgent and Frequent Need to Urinate – Many People who have this severe medical condition may also feel an urgent need to urinate, it is also possible even if they have just emptied their urinary bladder. The urge to urinate comes to mind again and again due to hydronephrosis. 

Vomiting and High Fever – Nausea or Vomiting are the most common symptoms of hydronephrosis. Including this, fever is also an indication of urinary tract infection and this could be hydronephrosis too.  

Causes of Hydronephrosis

In a few cases of Hydronephrosis, the cause might be unknown but the most common causes of hydronephrosis are – 

Tumor – It can grow by itself in the urinary tract and that’s why the flow of urine gets blocked. These tumors can be noncancerous or might be cancerous because it depends on the condition of the patient. 

Blood Clots in Urinary Tract – Due to any injury blood clots can form in the urinary tract and this blocks the path of urine to flow from the urinary tract. This condition can also be caused by to enlarged prostate gland in men and the reverse flow of urine from the urinary bladder to the kidney in a patient body. 

Kidney Stones – Kidney stones are some of the hard deposits that can form in the kidneys and due to this the tube that carries urine from the kidney that is ureter gets blocked and hydronephrosis condition occurs. If kidneys do not function properly for a longer period, dialysis treatment is used to remove waste materials and extra fluid from the blood.

Dialysis treatment must be provided through the latest technology. Criticare Hospital ensures that patients get expertise in personalized care and treatment through modern technology during dialysis and for many reasons, Criticare Hospital is the Best Dialysis Center in Lucknow.

Other causes such as during pregnancy, the growing uterus can put pressure on the ureters, and because of this hydronephrosis condition arises but it is considered mild. Another cause is due to strictures which are the narrowings in the urinary tract. Strictures can occur anywhere in the urinary tract and it can be due to any severe injury or Cancer of the urethra too. 

Treatment of Hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis is treated by Surgery, Lithotripsy, or Ureteroscopy. These treatments are for giving relief to the patient and due to these treatments there is an increase in the flow of urine out of the kidneys. These treatments also include many medications. 

In mild cases of hydronephrosis, doctors monitor the condition closely without immediate intervention. Regular checkups and tests were also done. 

If pain is a significant symptom of this condition then medications are prescribed by a doctor or specialist. Let’s find out about the treatment of Hydronephrosis –

Ureteral stent – In this treatment, a thin metal or plastic tube is inserted into the ureter to keep it open. This is done without any surgery and the Ureteral stent is removed by doctors after observing and finding good results. 

Urinary catheter – In this treatment, a flexible tube which is very thin, is inserted into the bladder to drain urine from the patient body. This is generally termed a temporary treatment for Hydronephrosis in order to give relief from symptoms. 

Surgery – Through surgery blockage, kidney stones, and tumors are removed. In Hydronephrosis, the type of surgery also depends on the cause of the condition, and through this constrictions are opened up. 

It is important to consult with doctors as soon as possible because early treatment of hydronephrosis is frequently successful. For early treatment, many patients consider Criticare Hospital because it is the Best Urology Hospital in Lucknow. Criticare Hospital is a multi-specialty hospital which gives exceptional medical care to its patients.

Doctors who have more than 10 years of experience and give the best guidance to each patient through personal care. Dr. Sakshi Jain(Senior Consultant- Nephrology), Dr. Mohd Dilshad( Consultant- AnaesthesiologistIntensivist), Dr. Kirtiman Singh(Senior Consultant Cardiology) and many more doctors have not only treated their patients but also supported them. This hospital offers a wide range of healthcare services too and is available 24×7 for your emergency needs.