Diagnosis
As is always the case in medicine, the examination is based on a detailed interview (= anamnesis) of the person concerned. The examination of the urine often helps to find the cause. Important indications of kidney disease can be blood in the urine, because in healthy people it is free of blood.
Furthermore, increased protein and white blood cells can be detected. These are also present in healthy people, if at all, only in small amounts. Another important examination is the imaging procedures such as computer tomography (=CT), magnetic resonance imaging (=MRI) or the easy-to-do ultrasound examination.
During the physical examination, the back is always patted. By tapping the back with the edge of the hand, it is checked whether pain occurs in the kidney region. If tapping pain occurs, this is a sign of kidney disease.
Prophylaxis
The kidney is one of the best supplied with blood in our body. The more fluid we drink and thus absorb into our body, the more fluid it must excrete through the kidneys to keep our fluid balance in balance. Both inflammation of the renal pelvis and renal colic can be partially prevented by drinking plenty of clear fluids such as water or tea.
The kidney then produces so much urine that the renal pelvis, urinary tract and bladder are flushed out in a regular manner and any pathogenic germs are transported out of the body with the flow of fluid. In addition, the urine is greatly diluted by the large amount of liquid and the formation of urinary stones due to too much uric acid and other substances is prevented. Ideally, the urine should be almost colorless.
Kidney pain during pregnancy
Most women will suffer from pain in various organs during their pregnancy. Due to the steadily growing child, many organs in the mother-to-be’s abdomen will gradually be displaced from their normal position. In addition to stomach pain, this often leads to kidney pain.
If the growing uterus presses on the ureter or other structures that are responsible for the removal of the urine formed in the kidney, the urine can accumulate and cause urinary congestion which, in addition to kidney pain, can in the worst case lead to permanent kidney damage due to inflammation. Pregnancy is also always associated with an increased risk of urinary tract infections such as cystitis or pelvic inflammatory disease, and women should consult a doctor for the symptoms typical of the infection. About 5% of all women have bacteria in their urine, but these do not cause symptoms.
About one third of these women with asymptomatic bacteriuria develop acute pyelonephritis, an inflammation of the renal pelvis, during pregnancy. In addition to kidney pain on the right side, these pregnant women also have high fever (often with chills). Nausea, nausea and pain while urinating are also possible.
Inflammation of the renal pelvis is treated with antibiotics, which are selected according to the bacterial spectrum determined by a urine test. In order to prevent inflammation of the renal pelvis during pregnancy, the urine is examined for bacteria at every preventive examination during pregnancy and the pregnant woman is treated with antibiotics if there are bacteria in the urine. Kidney pain on the right side of the pregnancy in pregnant women who have a known kidney disease can be an indication of worsening of the kidney disease.
Sudden severe pain can occur due to changes in the position of the child, for example, when it enters this region. This pain usually disappears on its own the next time the child changes position.In case of pain in the right kidney, women should consult a doctor as soon as possible in case of uncertainty, since pain in the liver can also be misinterpreted as kidney pain and liver pain in pregnant women is always considered a warning sign of the potentially life-threatening HELLP syndrome and requires immediate treatment. In case of uncertainties or unclear symptoms pregnant women should rather consult a doctor more often than to avoid a visit to the doctor out of false shyness.
