Nephritis

Kidneys are our body’s filters which are a sophisticated waste removal system comprised of two bean-shaped organs. Every day our hard working kidneys process 200 quarts of blood and remove two quarts of waste products and excess water. If the kidneys suddenly become inflamed, there will develop a condition called acute nephritis. Acute nephritis has several causes and can lead to kidney failure.

There are several types of acute nephritis. They are:

Interstitial Nephritis

In interstitial nephritis, the spaces between the renal tubules that form urine become inflamed. The kidneys swell from the inflammation. This type is often caused by an allergic reaction to a medication or antibiotic. An allergic reaction is the body’s immediate response to a foreign substance.

Other causes include the following: having low potassium in your blood (potassium is a mineral that helps regulate many functions in the body, including metabolism); taking medications for long periods of time may damage the tissues of the kidneys.

Pyelonephritis

Pyelonephritis is an infection in the bladder that travels up the ureters and spreads into the kidneys. Ureters are two tubes that transport urine from each kidney to the bladder, the muscular organ that holds urine until it passes out of the body through the urethra. The majority of pyelonephritis infections occur from the bacteria Escherichia coli, which is found in the intestine.

Although bacterial infections are the leading causes of pyelonephritis, there are other possible causes: urinary examinations that use a cystoscope (an instrument that looks inside the bladder); surgery on the bladder, kidneys, or ureters; the formation of kidney stones.

Glomerulonephritis

This type of acute nephritis produces inflammation in the glomeruli. Glomeruli are the tiny capillaries that transport blood and behave as filtering units. Damaged and inflamed glomeruli may not filter the blood properly.

The main cause of this type of kidney infection is unknown. However, some conditions may encourage an infection: having problems in the immune system; having a history of cancer; having an abscess that breaks and travels to your kidneys through your blood circulation.

Certain people are at greater risk for acute nephritis. The risk factors include: a family history of kidney disease and infection; having an immune system disease, such as lupus; taking too many antibiotics or pain medications; recent surgery in the urinary tract.

The symptoms will vary depending on the type of acute nephritis the patient has. The most common symptoms for all three types of acute nephritis are: pain in the pelvis, pain or a burning sensation while urinating, frequent need to urinate, cloudy urine, blood or pus may be present in urine, pain in the kidney area and/or abdomen, swelling in the body, commonly in the face, legs, and feet, vomiting, fever, high blood pressure.

Various diagnostic tests may be needed to confirm a case of acute nephritis. These tests include the following: a biopsy of the kidneys (a biopsy is a small tissue sample taken from an organ and examined in a laboratory setting); urine and blood testing (these tests detect location of bacteria and signs of infection); a CT scan may be used to take pictures of your pelvis and abdomen.

Antibiotics and pain relievers may be used if a patient has pyelonephritis. If high blood pressure is present, the patient may need calcium channel blockers. Corticosteroids or other immune suppressing medications may also be administered.

Exercise 5. Answer the questions:

1. What is the role of kidneys in the human body?

2. What happens when the kidneys inflame?

3. How many types of acute nephritis are there?

4. Give brief information for all types of acute nephritis (general characteristics, causes).

5. Name the risk factors for acute nephritis.

6. List the most common symptoms for all three types of nephritis.

7. What diagnostic tests may be needed to confirm a case of acute nephritis?

8. What medications may be administered to patients with acute nephritis?

Exercise 6. Translate the word combinations into English:

To be comprised of two bean-shaped organs; to lead to kidney failure; to swell from the inflammation; response to a foreign substance; to travel up the ureters; to pass out of the body through the urethra; formation of kidney stones; to behave as filtering units; an immune system disease, such as lupus; pain in the pelvis; cloudy urine with blood or pus; to confirm a case of acute nephritis.

Exercise 7. Match the following terms with their definitions:

Exercise 8. Insert the necessary preposition:

The treatment of nephritis depends … the type and cause of the condition. The aim is to reduce inflammation, limit the damage … the kidneys and support the body … kidney function is back to normal. Limitation … sodium (salt), potassium, protein and fluids … the diet may be necessary. Sometimes bed rest is advised. Steroids or more powerful immunosuppresants may be given to reduce the inflammation. Antibiotics may sometimes also be needed. Certain medications may also be needed to control blood pressure. In severe cases, renal dialysis may be necessary, … this may only be a temporary measure. Adults are slower to recover … children and more likely to develop complications or progress … chronic nephritis. Acute nephritic syndrome is unlikely to ruccur but if it does the person may require permanent dialysis … a kidney transplant.

Exercise 9. Translate the words in italics into English:

1. Kidneys are our body’s filters which are складна система видалення відходів comprised of two bean-shaped organs.

2. If the kidneys suddenly запалюються, there will develop a condition called acute nephritis.

3. In interstitial nephritis, простір між нирковими канальцями that form urine become inflamed.

4. The majority of pyelonephritis infections occur from the bacteria Escherichia coli, яка знаходиться в кишківнику.

5. Пошкоджені або запалені гломерули may not filter the blood properly.

6. The most common symptoms for all three types of acute nephritis are кров та гній in urine, набряк по тілу, commonly in the face, legs, and feet, блювота, fever, high blood pressure.

Exercise 10. Fill in the gaps using the words from the box:

The … are paired organs which have the production of … as their primary function. Kidneys are seen in many types of animals including vertebrates and some invertebrates (безхребетні). They are part of the … system but have several secondary functions concerned with homeostatic functions. These include the regulation of electrolytes, …, and blood pressure. In producing urine the kidneys … wastes such as urea and …; the kidneys are also responsible for the … of glucose and amino acids. Finally, the kidnyes are important in the production of hormones including vitamin D, … and erythropoietin.

Located behind the abdominal cavity in the …, the kidneys receive blood from the paired renal arteries, and drain into the paired … veins. Each kidney excretes urine into a … itself, a paired structure that empties into the urinary ….

Exercise 11. Translate the following sentences into English:

1. Маса нирки складає приблизно 120-200г.

2. Зазвичай права нирка дещо менша від лівої.

3. Нирка вкрита оболонкою, яка називається фіброзна капсула.

4. Нирка має бобоподібну форму.

5. Ниркова артерія, ниркова вена, лімфатичні судини та нерви проходять крізь нирки.

6. Сечові канальці утворюють більшу частину нирки.

7. Окрім виділення, нирки відіграють важливу роль залоз внутрішньої секреції.

8. Сечовий міхур – тимчасовий резервуар для зберігання сечі.

9. Скорочення м’язів виштовхує сечу із сечового міхура.

10. Сечівник – це канал, через який сеча виходить із організму.

Exercise 12. Put questions to the underlined words:

1. Acute glomerulonephritis usually develops a few weeks after a strep infection (стрептококова інфекція) of the throat or skin.

2. Diuretics may be prescribed to increase urination.

3. Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the glomeruli, small round filters located in the kidney.

4. Kidney stones cause painful problems when they block the flow of urine through or out of the kidney.

5. Urine is formed by the kidneys.

6. Kidney stones cause problems when they interfere with the normal flow of urine.

7. Surgical removal of a stone may become necessary when a stone appears too large to pass.

8. Kidney stone usually passes more quickly if the patient is encouraged to drink large amounts of fluids.

Exercise 13. Re-write sentences using the appropriate tense form. Translate them:

Dialysis is the artificial process of getting rid of waste and unwanted water from the blood. This process naturally (to do) by our kidneys. Some people, however, may have damaged kidneys which cannot (to carry out) the function properly – they may need dialysis. In other words, dialysis (to be) the artificial replacement for lost kidney function. Dialysis (to use) for people who (to become ill) and have acute kidney failure, or for fairly stable patients who permanently (to loose) kidney function.

Exercise 14. Describe the term “nephritis” according to the plan:

Завдання для самостійної роботи студентів (СРС)

Test

1. Acute infections practically always precede the onset of … nephritis.

a) chronic b) acute c) prolonged d) contagious

2. The main predisposing diseases of acute nephritis are:

a) diphtheria, measles b) myocardial infarction c) tonsillitis, sore throat

3. The site of initial lesion in acute nephritis is:

a) capillaries of glomeruli b) tonsils c) throat membrane d) adenoids

4. Acute nephritis may develop within:

a) one-two weeks b) two-eight days c) a month d) half a year

5. Patients are known to suffer from renal inflammation as shown by:

a) X-rays b) blood test c) urinalyses d) renal examination

6. Acute nephritis can lead to ….

a) measles b) kidney failure c) tonsillitis d) myocardial infarction

7. The sign of unfavorable prognosis is:

a) a scanty flow of urine b) chronic migraines c) hypertension

8. Various diagnostic tests … to confirm a case of acute nephritis.

a) may need b) need c) may be needed d) will need

9. Sometimes the edema is … and hardly recognized by the examining physician.

a) severe b) acute c) grave d) very mild

10. If the kidneys suddenly become inflamed, there will develop a condition called.….

a) renal insufficiency b) angina pectoris c) heart failure d) acute nephritis

Exercise 1. Topic vocabulary:

Exercise 2. a) Match the term element with its meaning:

b) Guess what is meant:

1. Study of the brain

2. Inflammation of the kidney pelvis

3. Specialist who deals with nervous diseases

4. Specialist in lung diseases

5. Pain in the chest

6. Cell of the liver

7. Surgical restoration of blood vessels

8. Mechanism of the heart activity

Exercise 3. Read the following word-combinations and translate them into Ukrainian:

An ascending infection of the kidney, congenital renal pathologies, a general set of symptoms, obtuse pain in the loins, cloudy and bloody urine, to be caused by bacteria, to penetrate through the urethra, to ensue in the course of cystitis, to have persistent hypertension, to be replaced by the non-functional tissue, to lead to kidney failure, to determine the underlying cause, to prevent the recurrence of disease, to require surgery.

Exercise 4. Read and translate the sentences. Pay attention to the use of the pronouns one/ones. Say what function they perform in sentences:

1. Hard beds are healthier than soft ones.

2. These stretchers are broken. Take those ones.

3. I’ve lost my inhaler. I need a new one immediately.

4. Don’t put this white gown on, it's dirty. Put this one on.

5. If you haven’t got average syringes, small ones will also do.

6. Do you remember Dr. Green? – Is that the one who operated on me last year?

7. The doctor has asked me to bring another case history. This one is crumpled.

8. In chronic processes the normal organic tissue may be replaced by the non-functional one.

Exercise 5. Read the text and translate it into Ukrainian: