Kidney infections are caused when
bacteria infects your kidneys. The bacteria are usually a type called E. coli,
which live in the intestine. The bacteria get in through the opening of the
urethra and move upwards through the urinary tract, first infecting your
bladder and then your kidneys.
Most urinary tract infections involve
only the bladder and urethra (the lower urinary system). Pyelonephritis results
when a UTI progresses to involve the upper urinary system (the kidneys and
ureters).
What
are the signs and symptoms of kidney infections?
Kidneys (acute pyelonephritis):
Ø Upper
back and side (flank) pain
Ø High
fever
Ø Shaking
and chills
Ø Nausea
Ø Vomiting
Bladder (cystitis)
Ø Pelvic
pressure
Ø Lower
abdomen discomfort
Ø Frequent,
painful urination
Ø Blood
in urine
Ø Urethra
(urethritis)
Ø Burning
with urination
Ø Discharge
Complications
of a UTI may include:
Ø Recurrent
infections, especially in women who experience two or more UTIs in a six-month
period or four or more within a year.
Ø Permanent
kidney damage from an acute or chronic kidney infection (pyelonephritis) due to
an untreated UTI.
Ø Increased
risk in pregnant women of delivering low birth weight or premature infants.
Ø Urethral
narrowing (stricture) in men from recurrent urethritis, previously seen with
gonococcal urethritis.
Ø Sepsis,
a potentially life-threatening complication of an infection, especially if the
infection works its way up your urinary tract to your kidneys.
What
are the various investigations for uti?
Ø Analysing
a urine sample for lab analysis to look for white blood cells, red blood cells
or bacteria.
Ø Growing
urinary tract bacteria in a lab by a urine culture. This test tells your doctor
what bacteria are causing your infection and which medications will be most
effective.
Ø Ultrasound,
a computerized tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Ø Cystoscopy: If you have recurrent UTIs, your doctor may
perform a cystoscopy, using a long, thin tube with a lens (cystoscope) to see
inside your urethra and bladder.
Treatment
Antibiotics usually are the first line
treatment for urinary tract infections. Which drugs are prescribed and for how
long depend on your health condition and the type of bacteria found in your
urine.
Drugs commonly recommended for simple
UTIs include:
Ø Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole
(Bactrim, Septra, others)
Ø Fosfomycin
(Monurol)
Ø Nitrofurantoin
(Macrodantin, Macrobid)
Ø Cephalexin
(Keflex)
Ø Ceftriaxone
The group of antibiotic medicines known
as fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), levofloxacin (Levaquin) and
others. In some cases, such as a complicated UTI or kidney infection, your
doctor might prescribe a fluoroquinolone medicine if no other treatment options
exist.
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