Kidney Infection Symptoms

Kidneys form a part of excretory system of our body. They are located on either side of the body beneath the diaphragm. Each kidney is connected to the bladder with long tube like structures called ureters. The urine from the kidney travels through these ureters and collects in the bladder. It stays there till the time it is passed out of the body through urethra. The kidneys play very important functions in the body such as filtering the waste products from the body, maintaining electrolyte balance, regulating blood pressure and contributing to the production of erythrocytes (or red blood cells). But sometimes, the kidneys are not able to perform their functions well. The most common cause behind their malfunctioning is microbial infection of the kidneys, more specifically known as kidney infection. In medicine, it is termed as pyelonephritis. The symptoms of kidney infection begin with various problems associated with urination. Such problems may further extend to other body parts if not treated on time.

List of Symptoms of Kidney Infection

• Frequent urge to urinate, especially at night.
• Feeling of full bladder even after urination.
• Kidney infection symptoms in women and men may include inability to urinate or hold the stream while urinating. It might be accompanied with pain on the sides and lower abdomen.
• Mild to sharp pain during or just after urination. Many patients also feel a burning sensation along with pain.
• Symptoms of kidney infection in children and infants can be irritability and fussiness. This is mainly because they may not be able to express their discomfort, and evidently choose petulance as an indication of discomfort.
• Children who were potty trained for sleep may not be able to control their urination while suffering from urinary tract infection (UTI). Symptoms of kidney infection in children thus includes bed wetting as well.
• Infected kidney is often swollen and is surrounded by fluids. This increases the pressure on the adjacent structures, which further causes abdominal pain.
• Intense abdominal pain and cramps accompanied with diarrhea are some other kidney infection symptoms. Back pain is also experienced by some of the patients.
• Kidney infection may spread to other parts of the excretory system like bladder and ureters. This eventually results in groin, lower back and buttock pain and discomfort.
• In order to fight against the causative microbe, your body may raise the temperature by 1-2 degrees. This makes you feel feverish.
• Both female and male symptoms may include cloudy and foul-smelling urine.
• Some other symptoms are intense pain in the lower abdomen and passage of blood and pus through urine. Presence of blood in the urine is called hematuria.
• Fatigue, dehydration, vomiting, nausea and dizziness are chronic kidney infection symptoms. In such a case, immediate medical attention is required.

Symptoms of kidney infection usually develop over a period of few hours. The discomfort is, most of the time, quite intense and is difficult to be ignored. In case you happen to become a victim of kidney infection, you should seek medical assistance as early as possible. This will not only help in the treatment of the disease but also its spread to other body parts.