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Hydronephrosis

Hydronephrosis · Hydronefróza

What it is

A kidney swollen with urine that cannot drain — from a stone, a narrowing, an enlarged prostate, a tumour or pregnancy — which damages it if it lasts.

Symptoms & signs

  • Flank pain
  • pain spreading to the groin
  • fever if infected
  • changed urination
  • often found on a scan before birth

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Fever with shivers and loin pain
  • call 112 / 911 now Passing no urine
  • see a doctor soon Severe loin pain spreading to the groin
  • see a doctor soon Much less urine or swollen ankles

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Ultrasound and CT
  • relieve the block: stent or nephrostomy
  • treat the cause (stone, prostate, stricture)
  • antibiotics for infection
  • follow-up scans in babies

Natural & lifestyle

  • Enough fluids
  • prompt treatment of urinary infections

Emerging & experimental

  • Robotic pyeloplasty
  • biodegradable stents

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Parsley and dandelion as diuretics — more urine against a block does not help anecdotal / traditional
  • Cranberry — may cut urinary infections in some groups; does not relieve a block early / small studies
  • Castor oil packs — anecdotal anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes