Acute glomerulonephritis

For a lay person:

Acute glomerulonephritis is a sudden inflammation of the kidneys' tiny filters, often following a throat or skin infection, especially in children. It causes blood in the urine, swelling and high blood pressure, and most children recover fully, though some forms can cause lasting kidney damage.

For a trained medical person:

Immune-mediated glomerular inflammation presenting as nephritic syndrome (haematuria, proteinuria, hypertension, oedema, reduced GFR); post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is the classic form, with IgA nephropathy, lupus, ANCA vasculitis and anti-GBM disease as others. Diagnosis includes urinalysis, renal function, complement, ASO titre, autoimmune serology and often biopsy. Management is supportive (salt and fluid restriction, diuretics, antihypertensives) with immunosuppression for specific aetiologies.

In Chinese medicine:

Liu and Tseng's textbook differentiates this condition into these patterns: Feng Shui (Wind Water); Damp Toxin; Excess Heat. Treatment follows the pattern a patient presents with, not the Western diagnosis alone.

When to get help: Seek urgent care for very little urine, breathlessness, severe headache or confusion. This needs medical treatment; many herbs are cleared by the kidneys and some can damage them, so do not take herbs without your kidney doctor's agreement.