Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that generally begins in your urethra or bladder and travels to one or both of your kidneys.
A kidney infection requires prompt medical attention. If not treated properly, a kidney infection can permanently damage your kidneys or the bacteria can spread to your bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection.
Kidney infection treatment, which usually includes antibiotics, might require hospitalization.
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What are the early signs of kidney infection?
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How do you get a kidney infection?
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Complications
There are two types of kidney infection:
- Uncomplicated kidney infection: The patient is healthy and serious complications are highly unlikely.
- Complicated kidney infection: The patient is more likely to suffer complications, perhaps because of a pre-existing illness or condition.
If a kidney infection is not treated promptly, there is a risk of serious complications, including:
- Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN): This is a very rare, potentially fatal complication. EPN is a severe infection in which kidney tissues are destroyed rapidly. The bacteria that cause the infection release a toxic gas that accumulates inside the kidney, causing fever, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and confusion.
- Kidney abscesses: pus accumulates in kidney tissues in abscesses. Symptoms include blood in urine, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Sometimes surgery is needed to drain out the pus.
- Blood poisoning, or sepsis: Also a rare but possibly life-threatening complication, sepsis leads to bacteria spreading from the kidneys into the bloodstream, resulting in infections in any part of the body, including major organs. It is a medical emergency and patients are usually placed in an intensive care unit (ICU).
When to call a doctor
A kidney infection can develop quickly and lead to serious complications.
Medical help is needed if there is:
- persistent pain
- a high temperature
- a change in urination patterns
- blood in the urine
Prevention
Often, a kidney infection is the result of a pre-existing infection in the urinary tract. The best way to prevent a kidney infection from developing is by not having bacteria in the urethra or bladder.
- Hydration: Drink plenty of fluids.
- Urination: Urinate whenever there is an urge. Don’t wait.
- Sexual intercourse: Urinate after sexual intercourse. Wash the genitals before and after intercourse.
- Toilet hygiene: After passing stools, wipe the anus from front to back. This lessens the risk of spreading bacteria to the genitals.
- Fiber: Eat plenty of fiber so that stools come out easily and do not irritate or cause skin lesions. Constipation increases the risk of developing a kidney infection.