Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis): Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
What is a kidney infection (pyelonephritis)?
Pyelonephritis (pyelonephritis) is an infection of one or both kidneys caused by bacteria or viruses. This condition is one type of urinary tract infection.
The main task of the kidneys is to remove waste and take additional water from the blood. The kidneys are the part of your urinary tract, which makes liquid waste (urine) and removes it from the body.
Bacteria and viruses usually reach the bladder through the urethra, which is the tube that passes urine from the bladder and leaves the body. This can lead to an infection that affects kidney function and can lead to pyelonephritis.
Kidney infection and bladder infection are similar conditions. However, pyelonephritis is less common than urinary tract infections. However, this condition is quite serious. The reason is, infections that damage the kidneys can cause chronic pyelonephritis to lead to kidney failure.
How common is pyelonephritis?
Kidney infection can happen to anyone. However, this disease is common in women and the elderly. People who use catheters, have diabetes, or blockage of the urinary tract due to kidney stones or an enlarged prostate are also at greater risk.
Signs & symptoms
What are the signs and symptoms of a kidney infection (pyelonephritis)?
The initial phase of pyelonephritis is usually asymptomatic. The most common symptoms are fever and back pain. Symptoms of a kidney infection are:
- Shivering
- Urinating frequently
- Nausea
- Pain when urinating
- Urine looks cloudy and smells bad
- Pain in the ribs or pelvis
- Sudden urge to urinate
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Stomach ache
- Throw up
There may be some signs and symptoms not listed above. If you feel worried about a symptom, consult your doctor immediately.
When should you see a doctor?
If you experience any of the signs or symptoms mentioned above, consult a doctor immediately. This also applies when you feel something unusual in the lower abdominal area.
You should also seek medical attention immediately if you experience severe pain in the stomach area or urine mixed with blood.
Everyone’s body reacts differently, including when experiencing kidney disease. We recommend that you discuss your condition with your doctor to get the right treatment.
Cause
What causes kidney infection (pyelonephritis)?
Pyelonephritis is caused by bacteria or viruses that infect urine and reach the kidneys through the ureters or from the bloodstream. The bacteria that enter your urinary tract through the urethra can multiply and travel to the kidneys.
Quoted from Mayo ClinicThe bacteria from infections elsewhere in your body can also spread through the bloodstream to the kidneys. Although many bacteria and viruses cause kidney infections, the most common bacteria are E. coli.
In rare cases, infection occurs after kidney surgery.
Risk factors
What increases my risk for pyelonephritis (kidney infection)?
In general, bacteria will leave the body through urine. However, certain health conditions can increase the risk of kidney infections. What are the potential health problems to infect the kidneys?
- Gender, symptoms of kidney infection in women are more common because the urethra is shorter.
- Disorders of the urinary tract that slow down urine flow due to urinary tract deformities.
- Enlarged prostate pressing on the urethra.
- Changed immune system function due to certain diseases, such as HIV and cancer.
- Pregnancy because the uterus is enlarged and can compress the ureters and reduce urine flow.
- Long-term use of a urinary catheter.
- Diabetes mellitus that is not handled properly.
- Use of certain drugs that affect the immune system.
- Vesicoureteral reflux, a condition when urine flows back into the kidneys.
Not having risk factors does not guarantee that a person does not develop pyelonephritis. Therefore, consulting a doctor is the best way to find a solution that is right for you.
Treatment
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.
What are the treatment options for pyelonephritis (kidney infection)?
Most patients who suffer from kidney infections can recover completely, as long as they get the right treatment. Here are some ways doctors treat pyelonephritis.
Antibiotics
Generally, pyelonephritis patients will be taken to the hospital and given antibiotics that are inserted through a vein. If the symptoms have improved, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic that is taken by mouth for 3 weeks.
After that, the doctor will also recommend undergoing a repeat urine culture. This aims to determine whether the infection has healed or not. If it’s still there, you may need to take more antibiotics.
Stay in the hospital
If the kidney infection gets worse, your doctor may recommend that you be hospitalized. This hospital treatment also includes antibiotics and fluids that are put in a vein in your arm.
Recurrent urinary tract infection medications are also treated with low doses of antibiotics. This medication will be given daily for several weeks to prevent infection. How long you stay in the hospital will depend on the severity of the infection.
In addition to the two types of treatment above, patients with pyelonephritis due to kidney stones may undergo ESWL therapy, laser, or surgery. This operation is done so that stones that block the urinary tract can be removed.
What are the usual tests for pyelonephritis?
With the signs and symptoms of pyelonephritis as well as notes, such as back pain and fever, the doctor can initiate a diagnosis. If a kidney infection is detected, they will also ask you to undergo kidney tests, such as urine and blood tests. This is to check for bacteria and find infections.
The following are some of the tests that are commonly done to detect pyelonephritis:
- Urinalysis, which is testing a urine sample to check white blood cells and bacteria counts.
- Urine culture, which is the examination of bacteria in the urine to determine the use of antibiotics.
- Blood culture, which is testing whether the bacteria has spread to the blood or not.
- CT scan to detect drainage problems and blockages.
- Kidney ultrasound to show if there are objects obstructing the urinary tract.
- Voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), an X-ray to detect problems with the urethra and bladder.
- Digital rectal exam (for men), a physical exam to detect swelling of the prostate.
- Dimercaptosuccin acid scintigraphy (DMSA), radioactive kidney function testing.
In addition to detecting bacterial infections in the kidneys, the above tests also aim to find out what problems can cause pyelonephritis. For example, this disease can be caused by kidney stones and birth defects.
Both of these health conditions can be treated to prevent future infections. If your doctor’s diagnosis is clear, it will be easier for you to choose the type of treatment.
Home remedies
What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat pyelonephritis (kidney infection)?
The following lifestyle changes and home remedies can help you manage pyelonephritis and prevent urinary tract infections from returning.
Drink lots of water
Keeping hydrated and drinking plenty of water can help the body clear bacteria from the urinary system. Water is the best choice. Healthy people are recommended to drink 6-8 glasses of water every day.
If you have certain medical conditions, such as kidney failure or heart disease, ask your doctor about what fluids are right for you. Not all fluids are drinkable and it’s best to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages.
You can also substitute occasional acidic drinks that prevent certain types of bacteria from staying in the bladder. This is enough to help you to avoid re-infection.
Not holding back pee for a long time
Holding on to pee for too long will only trigger the growth of bacteria in the bladder which can cause kidney infections. Therefore, try to urinate at least every 3-4 hours.
In fact, this also needs to be applied after sex, both men and women.
Urinating after sex can help eliminate bacteria that may enter the urethra during sex.
Take medication as directed by your doctor
Even if you feel that the symptoms of a kidney infection have improved, this does not mean that the medicine from the doctor has stopped being consumed. It’s best to stick to the doctor’s rules until they tell you to stop taking the drug.
Meanwhile, to make the recovery process easier for pyelonephritis, you need to be careful when taking herbal remedies found in stores. The reason is, certain herbal medicines can increase the risk of kidney disease.
If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.