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Kidney infection or pyelonephritis is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that generally originates in the urethra or bladder and progresses to either one or both kidneys. A kidney infection requires immediate medical care. If the kidney infection is not treated properly, it can permanently damage the kidneys, and the bacteria can move towards the bloodstream and cause a life-threatening infection.
Acute pyelonephritis is a sudden and severe kind of kidney infection that causes the kidneys to enlarge and can even permanently impair them. When repeated or persistent infection occurs, the condition is called chronic pyelonephritis. However this chronic form is rare, but it happens more often in children or people with urinary obstructions.
Symptoms may differ in children and older adults. People with chronic pyelonephritis experience only mild symptoms or may even lack noticeable symptoms altogether. Signs and symptoms of a kidney infection generally include:
Bacteria generally enters the urinary tract through the urethra, where it can multiply and advance to the kidneys. This contributes to the common cause of kidney infections. However, any serious infection present in the bloodstream can also spread to the kidneys and cause acute pyelonephritis. Rarely, kidney infection results after kidney surgery.
Other causes comprise of:
To rule out kidney infections, the doctor will probably advise certain tests mentioned below:
Apart from all these above tests, the doctor may also recommend the following tests:
Antibiotics are the first line of treatment in terms of kidney infections. The type of drug used and for how long it has to be administered depends on the overall health and the type of bacteria found in the urine tests.
Generally, the signs and symptoms of a kidney infection begin to resolve within a few days of medical treatment.
The doctor might recommend a repeat urine culture to make sure that the infection has resolved completely. If the infection still persists, the patient further needs to take a repeat course of antibiotics.
If the patient has a severe kidney infection, the doctor might advise hospitalisation. Treatment might include antibiotics and IV fluids. Staying in the hospital depends on the seriousness of the patient's condition.
An underlying medical problem, such as a deformed urinary tract, can result in recurrent kidney infections. The patient might need surgery to repair a structural abnormality. In such cases, a nephrectomy is performed, which involves the removal of a part of the kidney.
The risk of kidney infections can be avoided by taking certain steps. Women, in particular, may lessen their chances of urinary tract infections if they follow the below-mentioned things:
With treatment, the outlook for kidney infections (pyelonephritis) is positive. It is vital that patients take all prescribed medications for the infection. You may begin feeling better shortly after starting treatment but need to continue the entire prescribed treatment.
Max Healthcare is home to 5000 eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
Max Healthcare is home to 5000 eminent doctors in the world, most of whom are pioneers in their respective fields. Additionally, they are renowned for developing innovative and revolutionary clinical procedures.
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