Acute glomerulonephritis, often referred to simply as acute nephritis, generally refers to a group of glomerular diseases with varying causes and mechanisms. However, they are clinically characterized by the acute onset of hematuria, proteinuria, edema, hypertension, and a decline in glomerular filtration rate, hence they are also commonly known as the nephritic syndrome. The vast majority of clinical cases are post-streptococcal infection glomerulonephritis. This condition is one of the most common kidney diseases in childhood, most often seen in children aged 3 to 8, and is rare in children under 2 years old, with a male-to-female ratio of about 2:1. This disease is often seen after streptococcal infection, with a symptom-free interval of 1 to 3 weeks, followed by the appearance of edema, hypertension, and hematuria (which may be accompanied by varying degrees of proteinuria). Acute glomerulonephritis falls under the categories of "edema" and "turbid urine" in Traditional Chinese Medicine. This condition is often caused by external pathogenic factors, improper diet, or overexertion, leading to the lung's failure to ventilate and regulate, the spleen's loss of transportation function, the kidney's loss of opening and closing, and the bladder's abnormal qi transformation.
Edema Overflow Type: Edema starts from the eyelids and then spreads to the limbs and the whole body. In severe cases, eyelid edema is so severe that the eyes cannot be opened. The onset is rapid, often accompanied by chills and fever, soreness in the limbs, and oliguria; the tongue is pale and swollen, with little coating, and the pulse is moist.
Damp-Heat Toxin Infiltration Type: The body develops sores, which may even ulcerate, or there may be red and swollen throat, or enlarged and painful tonsils, followed by eyelid edema that spreads to the whole body, difficult urination, aversion to wind and fever; the tongue is red, with a thin yellow coating, and the pulse is floating and rapid or slippery and rapid.
Damp-Heat Obstruction Type: Generalized edema, skin is tight and shiny, chest and epigastric fullness, restlessness and thirst, or bitter and sticky mouth, red and short urine, or constipation; the tongue is red, with a yellow and greasy coating, and the pulse is slippery and rapid or deep and rapid.
Kidney Yang Deficiency Type: Facial edema and body swelling, more severe below the waist, indentation when pressed without immediate rebound, palpitations, shortness of breath, cold and heavy pain in the waist, reduced urine output, cold limbs, fear of cold and fatigue, pale or dull complexion; pale and swollen tongue, white coating, pulse fine, deep, or deep and slow without strength.
It is recommended to perform moxibustion once a day, targeting 2 to 3 acupoints each time, with each acupoint being treated for 30 to 40 minutes. Rotate the points treated, with a 10-day period constituting one course of treatment, and then rest for 2 to 3 days before continuing with the next course. (If time permits and there is a need, more acupoints can be treated with moxibustion. The specific duration should be adjusted according to one's own physical needs.)
1. During the acute phase, bed rest is necessary, usually for 2 to 3 weeks, until the gross hematuria disappears, blood pressure returns to normal, and edema subsides, after which indoor activity can gradually be increased. 2. During the acute phase, it is advisable to restrict the intake of salt, water, and protein. For those with edema and high blood pressure, a salt-free or low-salt diet should be adopted; for those with severe edema and oliguria, water intake should be limited; and for those with azotemia, protein intake should be restricted. 3. Dietary therapy recipe: Braised Black Fish with Adzuki Beans and Winter Melon. Take one fresh black fish, remove scales and internal organs, 500 grams of winter melon with skin, 50 grams of adzuki beans, 3 spring onions, and an appropriate amount of water. Do not add salt, cook the soup, and consume it in multiple servings.