Nephritis, chronic:

Nephritis, chronic: 

Chronic Nephritis is a long-term kidney condition that involves inflammation and damage to the kidney tissues. It is often characterized by the presence of scar tissue in the kidneys, which can interfere with their ability to function properly. Over time, chronic nephritis can lead to permanent kidney damage and potentially life-threatening complications.

Causes 

Sometimes, the disease runs in the family. This kind often shows up in young men who may also have hearing loss and vision loss. Some forms are caused by changes in the immune system. However, in many cases, the cause is not known. Sometimes, you will have one acute attack of the disease and develop the chronic form years later.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of glomerulonephritis may vary depending on whether you have the acute or chronic form and the cause. You may notice no symptoms of chronic disease. Your first indication that something is wrong might come from the results of a routine urine test (urinalysis).

Glomerulonephritis signs and symptoms may include:

• Pink or cola-colored urine from red blood cells in your urine (hematuria)
• Foamy or bubbly urine due to excess protein in the urine (proteinuria)
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Fluid retention (edema) with swelling evident in your face, hands, feet and abdomen
• Urinating less than usual
• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Fatigue

Diagnosis

In some cases, a doctor may detect nephritis during a routine blood or urine test.

Finding protein in the urine can indicate that the kidneys are not working correctly. A blood test that measures a waste product in the blood called creatinine can also provide information on the health of the kidneys.

However, a biopsy is the best way to check for nephritis. For this procedure, a doctor will remove a piece of the kidney with a needle and send it to a laboratory for analysis.