Hydronephrosis is a serious condition that if left untreated the hydronephrosis can lead to serious life threatening complications including kidney failure.
Hydronephrosis and its underlying causes can lead to serious and even life-threatening complications.
Following the treatment plan you and your health care provider develop specifically for you will minimize the risk of complications including: High blood pressure and Kidney damage.
Left untreated, severe hydronephrosis can lead to permanent kidney damage.
Rarely, it can cause kidney failure.
But hydronephrosis typically affects only one kidney and the other kidney can do the work for both.
If it's left untreated for too long, the pressure can cause your kidneys to lose function permanently.
Mild symptoms of hydronephrosis include urinating more frequently and an increased urge to urinate.
Other potentially severe symptoms you may experience are: pain in the abdomen or flank.
Hydronephrosis can vary in severity.
Typically, your doctor will describe your child's hydronephrosis as mild, moderate or severe.
Sometimes hydronephrosis is given a grade of 1, 2, 3 or 4, with 1 representing very minimal dilation and 4 representing severe dilation.
Hydronephrosis is usually caused by a blockage in the urinary tract or something disrupting the normal workings of the urinary tract.
The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters (the tubes that run from the kidney to the bladder) and the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body).