What Is Kidney Infection?

By Lauretta Forday

Millions of people around the world suffer from kidney Infections every year. Women are more likely to suffer from kidney or urinary tract infections because their urethra is shorter which makes it easier for bacteria to travel faster to the bladder and kidneys. Although fewer men suffer from kidney infection, it can be serious when they get an infection because it is much harder to treat.

Kidneys are very important organs for the urinary system. They keep the balance of fluids because they filter and secrete metabolites and minerals. They also eliminate them as urine. They control blood pressure, glucose metabolism and production of erythrocytes. For all these reasons good function of the kidneys is extremely important.

Kidney infection may be caused by different factors and it is important to give a general explanation about this infection. Its medical name is pyelonephritis. It is generally caused by cystitis which is a urinary tract infection. Bacteria reach the kidneys as a result of an infection in the bladder such as cystitis and inflammation occurs. If the infection is not treated promptly, it may damage the kidneys permanently or spread to other organs or to the bloodstream, causing a life threatening infection.

The signs and symptoms of kidney infection are usually easy to recognize. Pain in the back or side (flank pain), fever, frequency of urination or blood in the urine means that bacteria has traveled up your kidneys to cause an infection. If you experience any of these symptoms, you must seek medical help straight away as untreated kidney infection can lead to many health complications. In some cases, the infection progresses without severe symptoms but after some years the kidneys can stop functioning properly and dialysis or a kidney transplant may be required. If you suffer from kidney infection then you can try the following tips to reduce the severity of your symptoms.These recommendations can also be useful to aid a faster recovery:

Put a heating pad on your abdomen, back or side in order to avoid or reduce pain or discomfort.

Use painkillers for reducing fever and discomfort. Only use a non-aspirin tablet or solution

Drink plenty of water or any other natural fluid to flush the infection from your urinary tract. Do not drink orange juice, coffee, alcohol or soft drinks.

If you are one of those people who suffer from recurrent kidney infection, consult your doctor for a plan to avoid recurrences.

The most common antibiotics used to treat kidney infection are: amoxicillin, quinolones (ciprofloxacin) and the combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim.

When talking about the drug therapy you will need to treat kidney infection, tell your physician of any other medication you may be using to avoid adverse effects. Generally, symptoms start reducing after a few days of treatment. You must continue taking all prescribed antibiotics until you finish the course even if symptoms subside after a few days. After completing your course of antibiotics, your doctor should repeat the urine tests to be sure that the infection has been cured.

About the Author: Lauretta is a Registered Nurse, Midwife and Public Health Practitioner with a special interest in finding natural remedies for many health problems.

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