Symptoms of kidney infection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
When someone has a kidney infection, it normally develops quite fast \u2013 in a day or a few hours.\u00a0Symptoms\u00a0of a kidney infection include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- diarrhea<\/li>
- nausea<\/li>
- uncontrollable shivering<\/li>
- vomiting<\/li>
- back pain<\/li>
- pain in the groin<\/li>
- pain in the side<\/li>
- often symptoms are worse when the patient urinates<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If there is also a corresponding bladder infection, the individual may experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- bloody urine<\/li>
- cloudy urine<\/li>
- pain or difficulty while urinating, often described as a burning or stinging sensation<\/li>
- foul-smelling urine<\/li>
- frequent urination<\/li>
- inability to urinate fully<\/li>
- pain in the lower abdomen<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
kidney infection Causes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A kidney infection is caused by bacteria entering the urethra and reproducing in the bladder, triggering an infection. The infection then spreads to the kidneys. There are a number of ways in which the bacteria can achieve this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Toilet hygiene:<\/strong>\u00a0After going to the toilet and using toilet paper to clean the anus, there may be contact with the genitals, resulting in an infection getting through and working its way up to the kidneys. The infection could also enter via the anus. Bacteria occupy the colon and eventually cause a kidney infection.<\/li>
- Female physiology:<\/strong>\u00a0Women are more vulnerable to bladder infections and ultimately kidney infections than men, because their urethra is shorter, making it easier for infections to reach parts of the urinary tract more quickly.<\/li>
- Urinary catheter:<\/strong>\u00a0A urinary catheter is a tube that is inserted into the bladder through the urethra to drain out urine. Having a urinary catheter raises the risk of developing a\u00a0urinary tract infection\u00a0(UTI). This includes kidney infection.<\/li>
- Kidney stones:\u00a0<\/strong>Individuals with\u00a0kidney stones\u00a0have a higher risk of developing kidney infection. Kidney stones are the result of a buildup of dissolved minerals on the inner lining of the kidneys.<\/li>
- Enlarged prostate:<\/strong>\u00a0Males with an enlarged prostate have a higher risk of developing kidney infections.<\/li>
- Sexually active females:\u00a0<\/strong>If sexual intercourse irritates the urethra there may be a higher risk of bacteria getting inside the urinary tract and eventually reaching the kidneys.<\/li>
- Weakened immune systems:<\/strong>\u00a0Some patients with weakened immune systems may have a bacterial or fungal infection on their skin, which eventually gets into the bloodstream and attacks the kidneys.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What is the urinary tract?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"[Urinary](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn-prod.medicalnewstoday.com\/content\/images\/articles\/182\/182306\/urinary-system.jpg?w=1155&h=1104\")
Diagram of the urinary system.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The\u00a0urinary tract\u00a0consists of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- The kidneys:<\/strong> The majority of humans have two kidneys, one on either side of the abdomen. Kidneys clear poisonous substances from the blood.<\/li>
- The ureters:<\/strong> Urine passes from the kidneys to the bladder through tubes called ureters. Each kidney has one ureter connecting it to the bladder.<\/li>
- The bladder:<\/strong> This is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine.<\/li>
- The urethra:<\/strong> A tube that carries urine from the bladder to outside the body. In males, the urethra travels down the middle of the penis to an opening at the end. In females, the urethra runs from the bladder to just above the vaginal opening. The urethra in females is shorter than in males.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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Kidney infection Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Kidney infection can either be treated at home or in a hospital; this will depend on several factors, including the severity of symptoms and the patient\u2019s general state of health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Treatment at home consists of taking prescribed oral antibiotics. The patient should start to feel better after a few days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is essential that the individual finishes treatment and complies with their doctor\u2019s instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consuming plenty of fluids will help prevent\u00a0fever\u00a0and\u00a0dehydration. Fluid intake recommendations may vary, depending on the type of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The doctor may also prescribe an analgesic if there is any pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the individual is treated in hospital and suffers from dehydration, fluids may be administered with a drip. Most cases of hospitalization do not last more than\u00a03-7 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Subsequent urine and blood tests will tell the doctor how effective treatment has been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The following factors are more likely to lead to treatment being administered in-hospital for kidney infection:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- diabetes<\/li>
- serious difficulties urinating<\/li>
- cancer\u00a0and\u00a0chemotherapy\u00a0or\u00a0radiotherapy<\/li>
- sickle cell\u00a0anemia<\/li>
- a history of kidney infection<\/li>
- HIV<\/li>
- a blockage in the kidneys<\/li>
- being pregnant<\/li>
- severe pain<\/li>
- severe vomiting<\/li>
- being aged 60 years or older<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Diagnosis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"[A](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/cdn-prod.medicalnewstoday.com\/content\/images\/articles\/182\/182306\/a-pair-of-kidneys.jpg?w=1155&h=1104\")
Oral antibiotics alone are often adequate to treat a kidney infection.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n A doctor will usually check the patient\u2019s heart rate,\u00a0blood pressure, temperature, and respiratory rate to check their general state of health. The doctor will also check for signs of dehydration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A physical exam will be carried out, with particular emphasis on the mid and lower back to see whether there is any sensitivity, pain, or tenderness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the patient is a young woman, the doctor may carry out a pelvic exam to verify whether there is any\u00a0pelvic inflammatory disease\u00a0(PID). If the female is of childbearing age, a pregnancy test may be recommended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A urine test can determine the presence of a UTI but not its location. However, a urine test that detects an infection will help the doctor reach a diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kidney infection Complications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are two types of kidney infection:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Uncomplicated kidney infection:<\/strong> The patient is healthy and serious complications are highly unlikely.<\/li>
- Complicated kidney infection:<\/strong> The patient is more likely to suffer complications, perhaps because of a pre-existing illness or condition.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
If a kidney infection is not treated promptly, there is a risk of serious complications, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN):<\/strong>\u00a0This 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.<\/li>
- Kidney abscesses:<\/strong>\u00a0pus\u00a0accumulates in kidney tissues in abscesses. Symptoms include blood in urine, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Sometimes surgery is needed to drain out the pus.<\/li>
- Blood poisoning, or sepsis:<\/strong>\u00a0Also a rare but possibly life-threatening complication,\u00a0sepsis\u00a0leads 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).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
When to call a doctor<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A kidney infection can\u00a0develop quickly\u00a0and lead to serious complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Medical help is needed if there is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- persistent pain<\/li>
- a high temperature<\/li>
- a change in urination patterns<\/li>
- blood in the urine<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Kidney infection Prevention<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Hydration:<\/strong> Drink plenty of fluids.<\/li>
- Urination:<\/strong> Urinate whenever there is an urge. Don\u2019t wait.<\/li>
- Sexual intercourse:<\/strong> Urinate after sexual intercourse. Wash the genitals before and after intercourse.<\/li>
- Toilet hygiene:<\/strong> After passing stools, wipe the anus from front to back. This lessens the risk of spreading bacteria to the genitals.<\/li>
- Fiber:<\/strong> Eat plenty of fiber so that stools come out easily and do not irritate or cause skin lesions. Constipation<\/a> increases the risk of developing a kidney infection.<\/li><\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Kidney infection, also known as renal infection or pyelonephritis, is a common type of urinary tract infection. Bacteria often infect the bladder or the urethra and spreads to one of the kidneys. Women are most commonly affected by kidney infection, as are pregnant mothers, children under 2 years of age, and individuals aged over 60\u2026 Read More »<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unionline24.co.za\/health\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Urination:<\/strong> Urinate whenever there is an urge. Don\u2019t wait.<\/li>
- Hydration:<\/strong> Drink plenty of fluids.<\/li>
- Kidney abscesses:<\/strong>\u00a0pus\u00a0accumulates in kidney tissues in abscesses. Symptoms include blood in urine, weight loss, and abdominal pain. Sometimes surgery is needed to drain out the pus.<\/li>
- Complicated kidney infection:<\/strong> The patient is more likely to suffer complications, perhaps because of a pre-existing illness or condition.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Uncomplicated kidney infection:<\/strong> The patient is healthy and serious complications are highly unlikely.<\/li>
- The ureters:<\/strong> Urine passes from the kidneys to the bladder through tubes called ureters. Each kidney has one ureter connecting it to the bladder.<\/li>
- Female physiology:<\/strong>\u00a0Women are more vulnerable to bladder infections and ultimately kidney infections than men, because their urethra is shorter, making it easier for infections to reach parts of the urinary tract more quickly.<\/li>
- Toilet hygiene:<\/strong>\u00a0After going to the toilet and using toilet paper to clean the anus, there may be contact with the genitals, resulting in an infection getting through and working its way up to the kidneys. The infection could also enter via the anus. Bacteria occupy the colon and eventually cause a kidney infection.<\/li>