Kidney, Urinary, Gastro Intestinal, Liver

Tests for Chronic kidney disease In many CKD patients, previous renal disease or other underlying diseases are already known. A small number present with CKD of unknown cause. Assessment of GFR is the best test to measure the level of kidney function and determine the stage of kidney disease. Urinary tract ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound, in which the size of the kidneys is measured. Kidneys with CKD are usually smaller (< 9 cm) than normal kidneys, with notable exceptions such as in…

Your doctor may suggest the following treatments for CKD: Control of blood pressure Treatment of the original disease, like treatment of diabetes Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs) to control the progression of kidney disease by improving renal blood flow  Replacement of erythropoietin and calcitriol (intravenous or intramuscular iron therapy prior to treatment with erythropoietin is recommended) Phosphate binders used to control…

Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease Initially there are no specific symptoms and Chronic Kidney Disease is generally only detected as an increase in serum creatinine or protein in the urine. As kidney function decreases, you may have the following symptoms of CKD: Feel more tired and have less energy Have trouble concentrating Have poor appetite Have trouble sleeping Have muscle cramping at night Have swollen feet and ankles Have puffiness around your eyes, especially in the morning Have dry,…

Or is it sometimes the fall guy for other allergens? Dietitian Ujjwala Baxi tells you what to do if you think you are gluten-sensitive. First tip: Do not rush into a gluten-free diet plan. I first heard about gluten sensitivity during my college days when I was studying nutrition. During my year of internship in a 1,000-bed government hospital in India, I heard of only 3 gluten sensitive cases that were referred to the dietary department for a specific meal plan. This was 10 years back. Now, in…

Urologist Dr Ananthakrishnan Sivaraman answers all your prostate cancer questions – what to look out for and when to see the urologist.  What are the symptoms of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH)? As men grow older, they may have problems with the prostate gland. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia is a condition of enlarged prostate gland. As it grows bigger, it presses on the urethra causing the need for frequent trips to the restroom. Some symptoms are: Increase in…

Prevention Researchers are trying to develop a vaccine to prevent recurrent UTIs. In the meantime, there are simple steps you can take to help prevent UTIs. Health departments recommend: Wiping from front to back after urinating or having a bowel movement. Drinking six to eight glasses of water daily. Drinking water after having sex. Not holding urine for long periods of time. Cleaning your vaginal and rectal areas daily. Taking showers instead of baths. Wearing comfortable underwear, tight…

Here are some useful tips on management of Urinary Tract Infection including dietary guidelines, your UTI management team and what to watch out if you have frequent UTI infections If you are getting frequent infections, try to identify specific triggers as they can be avoided. For women, behavioural modifications such as avoiding use of spermicides, proper perineal care like wiping front to back and postcoital voiding  is recommended. In post-menopausal women, vaginal estrogen application…

Antibiotics are used to treat UTIs. Lower UTIs can be treated with oral antibiotics. Upper UTIs require intravenous antibiotics. Sometimes, bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics. Urine cultures can help your doctor select an effective antibiotic treatment. The following antibiotics are used to treat UTIs: Beta-lactams, including penicillins and cephalosporins (for example, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Keflex, Duricef, Ceftin, Lorabid, Rocephin, Cephalexin, Suprax and others). Trimethoprim -…

Diagnosis  History and physical exam may suggest whether you have a lower or upper UTI. Definitive diagnosis requires a “clean catch” urine specimen. This is urine collected from the middle of the urinary stream (decreases the contamination of cells and microbes). The doctor will instruct how to do a clean catch. The goal is to avoid picking up bacteria from patient’s skin. Read: Know Your Tests: The Urine Test  Doctors will look for a large number of white blood cells in the…

Symptoms of UTI depend upon what part of the urinary tract is infected. Lower UTIs are infections of the urethra and bladder. Their symptoms include: Burning with urination Increased frequency of urination with scant amounts of urine being passed Bloody urine (blood in urine) Cloudy urine (milky colored urine) Urine that looks like cola or tea (dark brown coloured urine) Strong odour to urine Pelvic pain (women - lower abdominal pain) Rectal pain (men - anal pain) Upper UTIs are infections of…