Symptoms of Kidney Infection During Pregnancy

Kidney infection, also known as pyelonephritis, is a type of urinary tract infection. The kidney, ureters, urethra, and urinary bladder constitute the urinary system, and infection in any of these organs falls under the category of urinary tract infection. Kidney infection can affect both adults and children, but it has been observed that women during pregnancy are at an increased risk for developing this condition due to certain factors. Kidney infection is a medical urgency, as it can lead to certain serious complications if not treated immediately.

Causes of Kidney Infection During Pregnancy

Infection usually begins in the urinary bladder, from where it can spread to the kidneys. Infection causing bacteria first enter the urethra, multiply there and then gradually make their way upwards to the other parts of the urinary tract, before finally reaching the kidney. Factors that can impede the normal flow of urine or complete emptying of the bladder can cause kidney infection. Kidney stones, obstruction in the urinary tract and structural defect in the urinary system are some of the common causes. However, pregnant women are more susceptible to this condition due to some other factors as well.

The hormonal and physical changes that accompany pregnancy can sometimes make a woman more vulnerable to kidney infection. During pregnancy, the level of the hormone progesterone increases in the body, which in turn can decrease muscle tone of the ureters and cause their dilation. This can impede the flow of urine. Again, the growing size of the uterus can compress the ureters, further slowing down the flow of urine. During pregnancy, women can also fail to empty the bladder completely, as the bladder can lose tone and become prone to a condition where some urine flows back to the ureters. All these factors make it increasingly difficult for the urine to pass through the urinary tract quickly. This can give more opportunity to bacteria to proliferate and cause an infection, which can eventually spread to the kidneys.

Symptoms of Kidney Infection During Pregnancy

Identifying the kidney infection symptoms during pregnancy can be a bit difficult. This is because, some of the symptoms of kidney infection can resemble normal pregnancy symptoms.

Frequent Urge to Urinate and Painful Urination
Kidney infection almost always causes a frequent urge to urinate. However, the urge to urinate frequently can also be experienced by pregnant woman even in the absence of infection. This can happen due to the increased pressure on the bladder placed by the growing uterus. However, kidney infection often causes pain or discomfort while urinating, along with increasing the frequency of urination.

Changes in Urine
Along with increasing the frequency and urgency to urinate, kidney infection can cause the discharge of abnormal urine. The urine may look a bit cloudy or it can smell too strong. Sometimes, blood can also be present in the urine. Presence of blood in urine is known as hematuria.

Back Pain
Back pain is a very common condition associated with pregnancy. However, kidney infection can also cause back pain during pregnancy, and this pain can be quite severe at times. Pain associated with kidney infection is usually felt in the lower back region or the waist area, and in the lower abdomen. Sometimes, pain or pressure in the bladder area can also be felt due to bladder infection. The pain caused by kidney infection is often described as a stabbing pain that usually lasts for a short time.

Other Symptoms
Fever, chill, nausea, and vomiting are some other initial symptoms. However, nausea and vomiting can be present in a normal pregnancy as well. But, if such symptoms are accompanied by urinary problems, then it may indicate an infection of the kidney, or in any other parts of the urinary tract.

Treating Kidney Infection During Pregnancy

Kidney infection is treated with antibiotics. In severe cases, pregnant women with kidney infection may need to be hospitalized and given intravenous fluid and antibiotics. The length of hospitalization would depend on the severity of the infection. So, the treatment during pregnancy would basically depend on the severity of the infection, which can be determined only after evaluating the condition properly.

If not treated promptly, kidney infection can damage the kidneys. Moreover, pregnant women who develop kidney infection can have a higher risk for giving birth to babies with low birth weight. It is important to identify the condition and get it immediately evaluated with the help of their physician. Prompt treatment can help to avoid the complications associated with kidney infection.