Symptoms of Kidney Infection

There always remains a chance of an infection in the urethra or bladder to move up to one or both the kidneys, and infect the organs. This is known as kidney infection, and clinically, pyelonephritis. It can be regarded as a specific type of urinary tract infection (UTI), that does not begin in the kidneys itself, but somewhere else. It is more common in women than in men. This may be because of UTI which commonly affects women, due to their shorter length of urethra. The most serious repercussion that kidney infection may have is permanent damage to the organs. Apart from this, the infection has all tendencies to make it to the blood stream thus, endangering the life of the patient. Fortunately, the condition does not pose serious threat to the patient's health if it is treated promptly. And in most cases, it is almost always curable with the help of antibiotics.

Indicants of Kidney Infection

Symptoms of pyelonephritis, are quick in their occurrence, and usually show up within a few hours. Also, initially they may be similar to those that occur in UTI, which may include:

• Strong, persistent, frequent urge to urinate
• Painful urination or burning sensation while urinating
• Despite frequent urination, the patient passes small amounts of urine. A feeling of incomplete urination may persist
• Urine may become cloudy or murky
• Pain in rectal region in men, and pelvic region in women

As the infection spreads further in the kidneys, and worsens, new sets of symptoms may surface, and accompany the ones mentioned above.

• High fever (as high as 39.5ºC or 103.1ºF)
• Pain that originates from upper back, side, or from the groin region
• Nausea/vomiting
• Chills
• Shakiness
• Presence of pus or blood in the urine
• Poor appetite
• Foul-smelling urine

Causes and Treatment

As said earlier, infection of the urinary tract results in a secondary infection that affects the kidneys. The infection is caused by bacteria that usually live in the bowel; common being the E. coli. However, in some rare cases, the kidneys may be infected due to an infection elsewhere in the body such as the skin. A bacterial or fungal infection of the skin may get into the bloodstream, and reach the kidneys.

Coming to the treatment part, as the infection is bacterial, antibiotics happen to be the first line of treatment. Depending upon the type of the bacteria and the overall health of the individual, the duration, and the type of the treatment is decided. In most cases, symptoms begin to withdraw within a few weeks of the treatment. However, it is common for doctors to advise patients to complete the entire course of antibiotics to ensure complete elimination of the bacteria, and prevention of any recurrence.

For a severe infection, a hospital stay might be required. Here, the patient would be put on antibiotics with the help of an intravenous line. And for infections which are recurring in nature, it is advisable for the patient to get treated by a kidney specialist (nephrologist) or urinary surgeon (urologist). This would help to detect any underlying condition that might be causing the recurring infection.

Apart from following the doctor's advice, you can take up a few self-care measures at home to relieve the symptoms of kidney infection. For abdominal pain, placing a heating pad on the affected area helps. You can also take pain relievers prescribed by your doctor to deal with the pain. It is really important to drink plenty of fluids, including water, while suffering from this condition. It helps to flush out the bacteria from the urinary tract. However avoid caffeine drinks, soft drinks, alcohol and those which are made from citrus fruits.