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Nephrotic syndrome - causes, symptoms, treatment Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder characterised by high levels of protein in the urine and swelling of body tissue.  People of any age can be affected by nephrotic syndrome, although children aged between 18 months and four years are at increased risk.  Long-term nephrotic syndrome can lead to irreparable kidney damage leading to kidney failure, necessitating treatment with dialysis or, eventually, kidney transplant. General information Nephrotic syndrome produces a collection of symptoms and signs that occur because tiny blood vessels (the glomeruli) in the kidneys do not function correctly. The syndrome is characterised by abnormally high levels of protein in the urine (particularly one called albumin) and abnormally low protein levels in the blood. This often leads to fluid retention in the body tissues causing swelling (oedema) and can be associated with  high blood cholesterol  levels and  high...

Lithotripsy for kidney stones Lithotripsy is a non-invasive and commonly used alternative to surgery for the treatment of kidney stones. The procedure works by focusing high-energy shock waves to disintegrate kidney stones. Once disintegrated the sand-like fragments pass out of the body in the urine. Large stones may require more than one lithotripsy treatment.   The full medical term is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).  "Extracorporeal" refers to the shock wave being generated outside of the body.  The procedure is arranged through a urologist after tests are carried out to determine suitability for the treatment. Who is lithotripsy appropriate for? Lithotripsy may be recommended when a  kidney stone  is too large to pass on its own, or when a stone becomes stuck in the ureter (the tubes that connect the kidneys and bladder).   Lithotripsy is usually not recommended when the kidney stone is greater than a...

Kidney stones Kidney stones can cause severe pain and a range of other symptoms.  Small kidney stones can cause pain as they pass through the urinary tract. Large stones can become stuck in the kidney, ureter or bladder causing pain and blockage of urine flow. This can lead to infection and kidney damage. Kidney stones occur more commonly in men than in women.  And, while they can occur at any age, kidney stones are more likely to occur in people over 30 years of age. Kidneys and kidney stones  The kidneys are bean-shaped, fist-sized organs located under the ribs, in the middle of the back. The kidneys filter waste materials and excess fluid from the blood and also produce hormones that are important for blood formation, blood pressure, and bone formation.  The kidneys are part of the urinary system which includes; the bladder, ureters (tubes from the kidney to the bladder) and urethra (tube from the bladder to the outside of the bod...

Urinary tract infections - causes, symptoms, treatment The most common symptom of urinary tract infection is a painful, burning sensation when passing urine; they are usually treated successfully with antibiotics prescribed by a doctor.  Urinary tract infections are quite common, especially among women and children. Some people, regardless of age or gender, are more susceptible than others, just as some people are with coughs and colds. Causes Normal urine is sterile and contains no germs such as bacteria, viruses or fungi.  Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria enter the urinary tract. UTIs are most commonly caused by bacteria that normally live in the bowel. Women are particularly at risk because bacteria can more easily move into their urinary tracts.  Other factors that can increase the risk of UTIs include: Diabetes Pregnancy Structural abnormalities of the urinary tract Any factor that obstructs urine flow eg:  kidney ston...