Hydronephrosis  is a problem with the urinary system where one or both kidneys become swollen because urine doesn’t completely leave the body. Symptoms can include sharp pain in your back or side, vomiting, pain when peeing, blood in the urine, or feeling weak having a fever due to a urinary infection. Hydronephrosis Treatment options vary based on what’s causing the issue.

What is Hydronephrosis ?

Hydronephrosis is when something blocks urine from flowing from the kidney to the bladder, causing one or both kidneys to swell. This condition can happen suddenly or over time, and the swelling can be mild or serve. It can affect one kidney (unilateral Hydronephrosis) or (bilateral Hydronephrosis). If left untreated, it may lead to kidney damage or failure, but quick treatment can lower the risk of serious problems.

What is the main cause of hydronephrosis?

Hydronephrosis happens because of two main, problems in the urinary system:

• A blockage can stop urine from leaving the kidneys.
• Reflux can cause urine to flow back into the kidneys from the bladder.

These issues can be caused by:

• A blockage or defect in the urinary system that you are born with
• kidney stones
• a blood clot
• scarring of the ureter (the tube connecting the kidney to the bladder)
• A tumor in the bladder, cervix, colon, or prostate
• A enlarged prostate
• An enlarged uterus during pregnancy
• long-lasting kidney infections
• problems with the bladder not working properly (neurogenic bladder)
• Damage to the urinary system from surgery or injury.

What are the symptoms of hydronephrosis?

Hydronephrosis may not always cause symptoms in adults, depending on what’s causing it but when symptoms do appear, they can include:

• urinating less often or with a smaller amount
• Blood in the urine
• pain in the back, stomach or side
• symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI), like painful urination, cloudy urine, or a strong urge to pee
• Fever
• Feeling sick and vomiting

In babies, Hydronephrosis often doesn’t cause symptoms. But it does, it might look like:

• Multiple UTI’s, with fever as the only sign
• pain in the stomach or side
• Blood in the urine
• fever
• poor feeding
• Low energy
• Being fussy

How is hydronephrosis diagnosed?

Doctors usually use an ultrasound to diagnose hydronephrosis. This scan uses sound waves to look inside the body and helps the doctors see if the kidneys are swollen.

Most people have an ultrasound during pregnancy to check the health of the baby. This shows a picture of the baby and its internal organs. If the baby’s kidney look swollen, more ultrasounds may be needed during the pregnancy.

After the baby is born, doctors can do an ultrasound of the body’s kidneys the same way they would for an adult. If the ultrasound shows the person’s kidneys are swollen, the doctor might need to do more tests to find out what’s causing the problem. These tests can include:

• A urine test to check for infection or blood
• A blood test to check for infection
• A special nuclear scan to see how urine moves through the body
• A CT scan to get a 3D picture of the urinary system and nearby organs
• A voiding cystourethrogram , which is an X- ray that shows if there’s a blockage of reflux. Dye is added to the urine in the bladder to help show the flow of urine on the X-ray. This test is used to find reflux (VUR) in both adults and babies.

What happens if hydronephrosis is not treated?

If hydronephrosis isn’t treated or is very severe, it can cause problems with kidney function and overall health. Knowing these possible issues helps with proper treatment and care. Common complications include:

Urinary tract infection(UTI):  The most common problem with hydronephrosis is a UTI, which can lead to a kidney infection called pyelonephritis.

Kidney damage: If the issue isn’t fixed, hydronephrosis can cause permanent damage to the affected kidney.

kidney failure: In serious cases, it can cause kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a transplant. However, this is rate if the other kidney is working well.

Post-obstructive diuresis: After the blockage is cleared, patients might release a lot of urine.

What is the  treatment for hydronephrosis?

Doctors decide how to treat hydronephrosis based on what’s causing it and how severe it is:

In serious cases, doctors may need to drain the urine buildup to reduce pressure on the bladder and prevent permanent kidney damage. This is done by inserting a thin tube (catheter) through the urethra into the bladder or using a nephrostomy tube to drain urine directly from the kidney. Before fixing the main problem, doctors may give pain medication and antibiotics to treat or prevent a UTI. Sometimes, in adults, hydronephrosis can fix itself without any treatment. But usually, doctors need to do surgery can be minimally invasive, using small cuts and a thin tube with a light and camera. Other times, larger cuts nd more tools are needed . Medication can also be used in some cases.

When pregnancy causes hydronephrosis, it usually goes away, after the pregnancy ends without needing treatment. For babies, diagnosed with hydronephrosis before birth, doctors may do more tests or ultrasounds after birth to check if the kidneys and bladder are working well. In many cases the condition improves on its own overtime.

Since babies with hydronephrosis are more likely to get a UTI, doctors may give them antibiotics to prevent infections. Babies with severe hydronephrosis may need surgery. If the problem is a blockage in the tube between the kidney and bladder, doctors can perform a surgery called Pyeloplasty, where they remove the blocked part of the tube and connect the remaining ends.

How Much Does Hydronephrosis Treatment Cost In India?

The Hydronephrosis Treatment Cost In India ranges between USD 2500 and USD 3500, depending on the severity of the fracture and the facility chosen.

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