Kidney Infection in Children

Kidney infection or pyelonephritis can infect one or both the kidneys, present on each side of the abdomen. Each kidney produces urine which is drained down into the bladder through a tube called the ureter. In the bladder, the urine is stored and later secreted out of the body. This urinary tract infection usually occurs when the bacteria in the bladder travel up to the kidneys, where they reside and multiply. It normally happens if the body has low resistance, and if the infection is not treated in time, it can also cause permanent kidney damage.

Causes for Kidney Infection in Children
In most of the cases, the infection is caused due to bacterial invasion in the bladder, like cystitis, which spreads through the bloodstream to the kidneys. Other than this, there are a variety of other causes like pneumonia, malaria, hepatitis, measles, kidney stones, etc, that can block the urine flow and encourage the bacteria to grow in the trapped urine. Similarly, blockage in the ureter can be another cause for kidney infection.

Symptoms of Kidney Infection in Children
The signs of kidney infection in children normally develop within a short span of time and can come on very suddenly. Sometimes symptoms of kidney infection are unknowingly characterized as general sickness, and as a result parents usually ignore common signs and symptoms of kidney infection like distress and irritability in the child. Following are some more symptoms that can be observed in the sick child:

• Pain while urinating in the lower side of the back, on either sides or both sides
• Mild fever, which may rise to 101 degrees or even higher, if left untreated
• Loose bowel movements and diarrhea
• Abdominal pain and cramps
• Shivering and vomiting
• Nausea and loss of appetite
• Convulsions or fits
• Bed wetting and frequent urination

Diagnosis and Treatment for Kidney Infection in Children
Diagnosis for kidney infection is conducted to identify the actual cause behind the infection. The doctor may ask the patient for a urine sample to check for bacteria, blood or pus in the urine. In some cases, the patient may need to have an X-ray, MRI scan or a CT scan, especially if the cause behind the infection is a kidney stone or some kidney abnormality.

Kidney infection is mainly treated with antibiotics which can be given directly into one of the patient's vein or through a drip. If the infection is severe, and the patient is not responding well to the antibiotics and frequently urinating, and if there's a risk of dehydration, the patient has to get admitted in the hospital. Painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be given to ease the pain and reduce the temperature, if the patient has fever. If the tests indicate that the infection is due to a kidney stone, blockage of the ureter or any abnormality, then the patient has to undergo a surgery.

Kidney infection in children may develop at any age and is more common in girls than boys. Though it occurs rarely, if not treated in the early stages it can cause severe complications like septicemia (blood poisoning) and abscesses (a space filled with pus) in the kidney. Drinking plenty of fluids and maintaining body hygiene can help preventing kidney infection in children.