Epilepsy

Epilepsy Epilepsy is characterized by chronic seizures. It is characterized by Idiopathic (75%), Recurrent (2 or more), unexplained seizures. Epilepsy is the chronic condition of recurrent seizures (a single seizure does not diagnose epilepsy, not drug/substance/infection induced). The choice of…

Acute Pyelonephritis

Overview This is an infection of the kidney parenchyma that can be organ and/or life threatening and leads to scarring of the kidney. Complicated infection occurs in the following situations: Etiology Infection may have either: Clinical Presentation History The classic…

Nephrotic Syndrome

Nephrotic Syndrome Nephrotic syndrome is a collection of signs and symptoms indicating damage to the glomerular basement membrane and the podocytes. With most of the injury focusing on the podocytes. It is characterised: The causes of nephrotic syndrome can be…

Nephritic Syndrome

Nephritic syndrome Nephritic syndrome is an inflammatory process that is defined as the presence of one or more of the following: Causes can be divided into infectious and non-infectious causes. Non-infectious causes can be further classified into primary causes and…

Prerenal Failure

Overview Prerenal failure is azotemia caused by poor perfusion of the nephrons. Low perfusion reduces glomerular pressure, which reduces the pressure difference between afferent arterioles and Bowman’s spaces. This ultimately leads to reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Reduced perfusion is…

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

Overview Chronic kidney disease is defined as kidney damage or decreased kidney function of < 60ml/min for > 3 months. It may be caused by glomerular, tubular or vascular injury which may be detected on urinalysis, ultrasound or renal biopsy.…