Kidney Infection Causes

Kidneys are one of the most vital organs of the human body and they help in keeping the blood clean and balance the chemicals of the body. Kidneys help the circulatory and digestive system by keeping the composition of the chemicals in the body balanced. Kidneys are located near the middle of back, just under the rib cage. The two kidneys are located on each side of the spine. The breakdown of tissues and food, leads to the excretion of waste in the blood, that is removed by the kidneys. If kidneys don't remove the toxic wastes from the body, it builds up inside the body leading to kidney failure and various other kidney diseases. The kidneys actually remove the waste by the help of millions of tiny units called nephrons. The glomerulus and tubule also act in tandem with the nephrons in the process of waste removal. The extra water is passed through the ureters and is stored in the urinary bladder, until it is passed out from the body during urination.

Causes
The causes of kidney infections, vary on the type of infection that has occurred. The kidney diseases grow gradually due to the resilience power of the kidneys, but over a period of few years, they may result in severe infections.

Pyelonephritis
Pyelonephritis, one of the most common infections is caused due to bacteria. The bacteria usually grows in the intestines, due to the wastes in the kidney. The ascending urinary tract infection that reaches the pelvis of the kidney is called pyelonephritis.

Glomerulonephritis
Glomerulonephritis is caused due to allergic or immune response to infection in some other body part. In glomerulonephritis, the filters of the kidney (glomeruli) get damaged and this leads to the passage of blood and minerals in the urine. Some medical experts also agree that glomerulonephritis can also be caused due to a weaker immune system, that lowers the ability of the body to fight against bacteria and viruses. In children, streptococcal infection is held as a major cause of glomerulonephritis. Infections in the throat and respiratory system also lead to glomerulonephritis in children.

Diabetes Mellitus
One of the major risk factors or causes of kidney infections is diabetes mellitus, that can lead to renal failure and severe complications in the kidney. Both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes are major causes of this infection.

Signs
Kidney infections are very dangerous and if they are not checked at the earliest, they may cause major problems to the health of the person.

Burning Sensation
Severe burning sensation during urination may be a sign of kidney infection. It is one of the obvious symptoms of urinary tract infections. It may become difficult for the person to urinate and it's quite different from the common yeast infections. The pain can often be enough to bring tears in the eyes of the person.

Lower Back Pain
Lower back pain, concentrated in a small area near the end of the back, persistent for a long time, can be a hint of kidney trouble. The pain may be erratic and may repeat at several intervals during the day while traveling, sitting or walking. The pain could be severe at times.

Mild Fever
A mild fever at the initial stage of the kidney infection is quite common. There may even be a drastic rise in the fever at the later stages of the infection.

Fatigue
If you are facing some continuous fatigue problems, then it is highly probable that your kidney is infected. You may try to work, but you will feel exhausted and completely drained out of energy. At times, you may even find it difficult to keep your eyes open.

Treatment
Its diagnosis involves checking the blood, pus and urine of the person. Once the reports come, it will be easily evident, if the person has some infection in the organ. The treatment is done by administering antibiotics in the veins of the person or through a drip. If the symptoms persist, accompanied by dehydration, then the person should be admitted to the hospital. Drinking lots of fluid and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can prevent us from such infections.

It is extremely crucial for the health of the person, that once the kidney infection is diagnosed, he/she should take proper care and treatment, and strictly follow the diet and prescriptions of the medical expert. Very severe cases of kidney infections can lead to blood poisoning in the kidney.