Can Herpes Cause Kidneys Disease
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What Is A Urinary Tract Infection
A urinary tract infection UTI for short is an extremely common infection of one or more parts of the urinary tract, which consists of the urethra, the bladder, the ureters, and the kidneys.
While the body has systems in place to help keep bacteria from entering, there are times when germs get into the urethra. In many cases, bacteria don’t get any further and are cleansed during urination. However, sometimes bacteria manage to proliferate in the urethra or make their way further into the urinary tract, leading to infection. Most urinary tract infections are bladder infections, but UTIs can impact the kidneys too, which is a more serious condition.
So, with that in mind, how could genital herpes lead to a UTI?
Cautions With Other Medicines
Some medicines can affect the way aciclovir tablets or liquid work. They can also make you more likely to get side effects.
If you’re using aciclovir cream on your skin, this is less likely to react with other medicines.
It’s important to tell your doctor if you take any of the following medicines before taking aciclovir:
- cimetidine, a medicine for stomach ulcers
- mycophenolate mofetil, a medicine given after organ transplants
- probenecid, a medicine for gout
- aminophylline or theophylline, medicines for asthma
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What Is Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is an extremely prevalent sexually transmitted disease. According to the CDC, over one in six American residents aged 14 to 49 have genital herpes, which can be caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 or herpes simplex virus type 2 . Most people won’t have any symptoms, which explains why many will have no clue they are infected. Any sexually active person is at risk of genital herpes.
Like other herpes viruses, such as chickenpox, genital herpes rests and remains in the body forever once contracted. However, it can have episodic breakouts, at which times there are rashes and sores on and around the genitals. Those sores eventually burst and become ulcers, with pus and fluid draining from them.
As time goes on, outbreaks tend to be less severe and less frequent. However, even when the patient isnt in the midst of an outbreak, the disease is still contagious and people who know they are infected should take care to use protection during sex, also making their partner aware of the condition.
Description Of The Suhv
SuHV-1 is a double-stranded DNA herpes virus encased by capsid, tegument and envelope, as a structural mimicry of that explicitly displayed in a latest Science report . Of importance, glycoproteins in the envelope may compromise the immune response of the host animal by preventing the virus-infected monocytes from efficient antibody-dependent, complement-mediated lysis . As a result, the SuHV-1 tends to replicate rapidly with cytopathic effects to produce viral particles in a matter of hours and the said compromise was believed to be a significant determining factor in the death of infected swine . Humans were thought to have resistance to the SuHV-1 infections however, more human infections have emerged, especially in China, in recent years . Yet the underlying pathological pathway for SuHV-1 in humans and the putatively inherent immune defect of the patients remain unknown. Clinically, it is mainly manifested as central nervous system infection, followed by that of the pulmonary and hepatic systems. In addition, the virus can be transmitted to the retina through the optic nerve when it becomes reactivated . Reportedly, 80% and 40% of the patients in a case series of five also manifested respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and lesions of the optic nerve, respectively .
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Herpes Simplex Virus Infections
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and, often with the first infection, a fever and general feeling of illness.
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The virus sometimes infects other parts of the body, including the eyes and brain.
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Usually, doctors easily recognize the sores caused by herpes, but sometimes analysis of material from a sore or blood tests are necessary.
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HSV-1, which is the usual cause of cold sores on the lips and sores on the cornea of the eye and is caused by herpes simplex virus. Eye pain, tearing, redness, a feeling… read more )
This distinction is not absolute: Genital infections are sometimes caused by HSV-1. Infection can also occur in other parts of the body such as the brain or gastrointestinal tract. Widespread infection may occur in newborns or in people with a weakened immune system Overview of the Immune System The immune system is designed to defend the body against foreign or dangerous invaders. Such invaders include Microorganisms Parasites… read more , particularly those who have HIV infection Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome Human immunodeficiency virus infection is a viral infection that progressively destroys certain white blood cells and can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome . HIV is transmitted… read more .
HSV is very contagious and can be spread by direct contact with sores and sometimes by contact with the mouth or genitals of people who have HSV infection even when no sores are can be seen.
I’m Pregnant And Have Recently Been Exposed To Someone With Chickenpox How Will This Exposure Affect Me Or My Pregnancy
- Susceptible pregnant women are at risk for associated complications when they contract varicella. Varicella infection causes severe illness in pregnant women, and 10%-20% of those infected develop varicella pneumonia, with mortality reported as high as 40%.
- Because of these risks, pregnant women without evidence of immunity to varicella who have been exposed to the virus may be given varicella-zoster immune globulin to reduce their risk of disease complications.
- If you are pregnant and have never had chickenpox, and you get chickenpox during the:
- First half of your pregnancy, there is a very slight risk for birth defects or miscarriage.
- Second half of your pregnancy, the baby may have infection without having any symptoms and then get shingles later in life.
- Newborns whose mothers develop varicella rash from 5 days before to 2 days after delivery are at risk for neonatal varicella, associated with mortality as high as 30%. These infants should receive preventive treatment with varicella-zoster immune globulin .
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Got Ulcers Get Tested
A person with genital ulcers should see his or her doctor. Its important to confirm whether or not it is herpes and if so, what type. Genital herpes outbreaks are treated with antiviral medications. These medications can help to reduce the number of days of discomfort and have few side effects. They are most effective when taken early in an outbreak. Some people take these drugs daily to prevent outbreaks.
Once someone has had a test that confirms either type of genital herpes, future partners can have a blood test which tells them if they already have been exposed to the same strain of virus. If the person tests negative, the partner with the infection would be advised to take antiviral therapy daily, in order to help prevent infecting his or her partner. Although daily antiviral therapy decreases the chances of spreading the virus, there is no guarantee, so its best to have a frank conversation with a new sexual partner.
Medications That Can Harm The Kidneys
No matter what kind of medicine you take, whether OTC or prescription, it is destined to take a trip through your kidneys. Taking a drug the wrong way or in excessive amounts can damage these vital, bean-shaped organs and lead to serious complications. In the worst-case scenario, it could necessitate a kidney transplant.
Compared with 30 years ago, patients todayhave a higher incidence of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, take multiple medications, and are exposed to more diagnostic and therapeutic procedures with the potential to harm kidney function, according to Cynthia A. Naughton, PharmD, senior associate dean and associate professor in the department of pharmacy practice at North Dakota State University. All of these factors are associated with an elevated risk of kidney damage.
An estimated 20% of cases of acute kidney failure are due to medications. The technical term for this scenario is nephrotoxicity, which is growing more common as the aging population grows, along with rates of various diseases.
The kidneys get rid of waste and extra fluid in the body by filtering the blood to produce urine. They also keep electrolyte levels balanced and make hormones that influence blood pressure, bone strength and the production of red blood cells. When something interferes with the kidneys, they cant do their job, so these functions can slow down or stop altogether.
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Can Kidney Infection Cause Lymph Nodes To Swell
The swelling may make the node the size of a kidney bean or larger. Your swollen lymph nodes may harden and become fixed, depending on the immune response. Swollen lymph nodes throughout your body may indicate a general infection. A blocked lymph node too far under your skin to feel could be the cause of a swollen limb.
Can You Get Chickenpox If You’ve Been Vaccinated
Yes. About 15% 20% of people who have received one dose of varicella vaccine do still get chickenpox if they are exposed, but their disease is usually mild. Vaccinated persons who get chickenpox generally have fewer than 50 spots or bumps, which may resemble bug bites more than typical, fluid-filled chickenpox blisters. In 2006, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend routine two-dose varicella vaccination for children. In one study, children who received two doses of varicella vaccine were three times less likely to get chickenpox than individuals who have had only one dose.
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Common Medications That Harm Your Kidneys
Though you may not think about your kidneys all too often, they do play a vital role in your health.
One of their major roles is as your bodys filtering and waste disposal system
Almost 7,000 ounces of blood cycles through the kidneys each day. And in their workings they produce urine from unwanted chemicals, excess fluid or waste.
Its common practice these days to take medications for our ailments. And while medications may be designed to assist your body in some way, they also have to take a trip to the kidneys for filtering.
And if you think your kidneys are safe from the effects of those drugs, think again around 20 percent of acute kidney failure is caused by prescription medications.
Thats why you should know about six common medications that can damage the kidneys more than others
Study Population And Study Design
All study cohorts were retrieved from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database in Taiwan. The National Health Insurance program in Taiwan covers almost 99% of the entire population of 22 million people. The National Health Research Institute used the original data from the NHI database to construct a longitudinal database of patients who had been admitted between 1999 and 2008. This cohort included 2,619,534 hospitalized patients, representing 10% of all NHI enrollees and included demographics, disease and procedure codes for both clinical visits and hospitalization and medical costs and payments. This sampling fraction was based on a regulation that limits the maximal amount of NHI data that can be extracted for research purposes. Pre-admission comorbidities were determined as a specific entity recorded in at least one hospital admission or at least three outpatient department visits during the year prior to the index hospitalization, which was a relatively strict criterion and was well validated with good predicting power,,.
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Characteristics Of The Study Cohort
For the 3-year study period, there were 446 465 incident dialysis patients. After applying the exclusion criteria, the sample consisted of 221 546 individuals. From this group, 2784 patients had a zoster diagnosis and 51% died .
summarizes descriptive statistics by mortality status. Patients who died were older, white and non-Hispanic when compared with those who were alive at 2years. The time to death or follow-up was 8.1 and 16.7 months in nonsurvivors versus survivors, respectively .
Descriptive statistics for mortality within each risk factor and chi-square or t-test results among ESRD zoster patients
| Variable . |
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Zoster patients who died had a higher CCI and a greater incidence of bacteremia/septicemia, CDI and malnutrition. Patients with a history of kidney transplant had a significantly lower incidence of mortality. The most common primary causes of death were cardiac and unclassified other . A total of 27 patients received the zoster vaccination. Ten patients developed zoster and 17 did not .
Symptoms Of Genital Herpes
Primary Genital Herpes Outbreak
For people with symptoms, the first outbreak usually occurs in or around the genital area 2 days to 2 weeks after sexual exposure to the virus. The first signs are a tingling sensation in the affected areas and groups of small red bumps that develop into blisters. Over the next 2 to 3 weeks, more blisters can appear and rupture into painful open sores. The lesions eventually dry out, develop a crust, and heal rapidly without leaving a scar. Blisters in moist areas heal more slowly than those in dry areas. The sores may sometimes itch, but itching decreases as they heal.
About 40% of men and 70% of women develop other symptoms during initial outbreaks of genital herpes, such as flu-like discomfort, headache, muscle aches, and fever. Swollen glands may occur in the groin area or neck. Some women may have difficulty urinating and may, occasionally, require a urinary catheter. Women may also experience vaginal discharge.
Recurrent Genital Herpes Outbreak
In general, recurrences are much milder than the initial outbreak. The virus sheds for a much shorter period of time compared to an initial outbreak of 3 weeks. Women may have only minor itching, and the symptoms may be even milder in men.
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Renal Tumors Or Cysts
Renal tumors or cysts do not typically cause pain unless the growth is advanced or the disbursement is extensive. The three most common growth abnormalities include:
- Renal adenoma: A type of benign tumor that can grow to a substantial size
- Renal cell carcinoma : A type of cancer that usually begins in the tubules of the kidneys
- Polycystic kidney disease : An inherited disorder in which benign, fluid-filled cysts proliferate throughout the kidneys
The pain would most often be unilateral and accompanied by hematuria, either visible or invisible .
If cancer is involved, persistent malaise and unexplained weight loss are telltale signs suggestive of an advanced malignancy.
PKD may also be symptom-free until such time as the formation of cysts causes structural damage to the kidney. In addition to flank pain, usually bilateral, PKD may cause progressively worsening symptoms, including headaches, high blood pressure, hematuria, abdominal pain and swelling, recurrent kidney stones, recurrent UTIs, and renal failure.
As opposed to many of the other renal conditions, PKD is associated with excessive urination rather than impaired urination. The most common form of PKD, known as autosomal dominant PKD, manifests with symptoms when patients are in their 30s and 40s. Around 10% will advance to renal failure.
Who Can And Cannot Take Aciclovir
Aciclovir can be taken by most adults and children.
Aciclovir is not suitable for some people.
To make sure aciclovir is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:
- have had an allergic reaction to aciclovir or any other medicine in the past
- have kidney problems
- are over 65 years old
- are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding
If your immune system is weakened , talk to your doctor about the best type of aciclovir for you.
They may recommend tablets rather than the cream.
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How Should I Take Valtrex
Take Valtrex exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Start taking Valtrex as soon as possible after the first appearance of symptoms . This medicine might not be as effective if you first start taking it 1 or 2 days after the start of your symptoms.
Some herpes infections need to be treated for longer than others. Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may increase the risk of your virus becoming resistant to antiviral medicine.
You may take Valtrex with or without food.
Tell your doctor if a child taking this medicine cannot swallow the tablet.
Drink plenty of water while you are taking Valtrex to keep your kidneys working properly.
Lesions caused by herpes viruses should be kept as clean and dry as possible. Wearing loose clothing may help to prevent irritation of the lesions.
Store Valtrex tablets at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What Are The Symptoms Of Genital Herpes
Some people never develop symptoms. They dont know they have the herpes virus that causes genital herpes. They may unknowingly infect others. You can have the herpes virus for years and not have symptoms, so its hard to know when or from whom you got it.
When symptoms occur, theyre usually worse during the first outbreak or flare-up . Symptoms typically appear within two to 20 days after infection. Active symptoms may last up to four weeks.
You may experience:
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Kidney Impairment Can Be Costly
Although renal impairment is often reversible if the offending drug is discontinued, the condition can be costly and may require multiple interventions, including hospitalization, Dr. Naughton explained. To help you avoid getting to that point, we learned about medications that commonly cause kidney damage from Rebekah Krupski, PharmD, RPh, pharmacy resident at the Cleveland Clinic and clinical instructor of pharmacy practice at Northeast Ohio Medical University.