Nephrology: What It Is
Nephrology is actually a part of medical science that has to do with kidney ailments. It deals with diagnosis and treatment of kidney ailments as well as the care of those who need renal replacements therapy. This includes dialysis and patients requiring renal transplant.
Diseases categorized under this branch
Nephrology is concerned with the study of the normal functioning of kidneys plus its ailments. The following are some of the ailments that fall under nephrology’s scope:
- Glomerular diseases that affect the minute filtering systems of the known as the glomerulus
- Urine irregularities, for example excess secretion of sugar, blood, protein, casts, crystals, etc.
- Renal vascular ailments which affect blood vessel networks inside the kidneys
- Tubulointerstitial disorders that affect the tubules within the kidneys
- Kidney infections
- Kidney failure that might be abrupt or severe, or long term, or persistent
- Kidney plus bladder stones
- Acid base imbalances
- Cancers of the kidneys, urethra, and bladder
- Aftermath of diseases such as diabetes as well as high blood pressure on the kidneys
- Nephrotic disorder and nephritis
The effects of medications and toxins on kidneys include:
- Dialysis plus its protracted complications – dialysis comprises of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
- Autoimmune ailments together with autoimmune vasculitis, lupus, among others
- Polycystic kidney conditions where huge cysts or sacs full of fluid develop within the kidney thereby damaging its functions – which is an inborn or genetic condition
Treatment
Many kidney sicknesses are normally treated with drugs for instance steroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs abbreviated as DMARDs, and antihypertensives (a large number of kidney illnesses feature hypertension).
Apart from physiological impairment, a kidney patient suffers a huge psychological setback as well. This is because of the significant decrease in the quality of life. This can be managed through proper health education and immense love and support from the family and the doctors.
