Kidney infection – Illnesses & conditions

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   About kidney infections
   
2. 
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   Symptoms of kidney infections
   
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   Causes of kidney infections
   
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   Diagnosing kidney infections
   
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   Treating kidney infections
   
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   Complications of kidney infections
   
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   Preventing kidney infections
   

About kidney infections

A kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is a painful and unpleasant illness caused by bacteria travelling from your bladder into one or both of your kidneys.

It’s more serious than cystitis, a common infection of the bladder that makes urinating painful.

If treated promptly, a kidney infection doesn’t cause serious harm, but will make you feel very unwell. If a kidney infection isn’t treated, it can get worse and cause permanent kidney damage.

Symptoms of a kidney infection often come on within a few hours. You can feel feverish, shivery, sick and have a pain in your back or side.

Read more about the symptoms of a kidney infection

When to see your GP

See your GP if you have a fever and persistent tummy, lower back or genital pain, or if you notice a change to your usual pattern of urination.

Most kidney infections need prompt treatment with antibiotics to stop the infection from damaging the kidneys or spreading to the bloodstream. You may also need painkillers.

If you’re especially vulnerable to the effects of an infection – for example, if you have a pre-existing health condition or are pregnant, you may be admitted to hospital and treated with antibiotics through an intravenous drip.

After taking antibiotics, you should feel completely better after about two weeks.

In rare cases, a kidney infection can cause further problems. These include blood poisoning (sepsis) and a build-up of pus in the kidney called an abscess.

Read more about treating a kidney infection and the complications of a kidney infection

What causes a kidney infection?

A kidney infection usually happens when bacteria – often a type called E. coli – gets into the urethra (the tube which carries urine out of the body) and travels up through the bladder and into the kidneys.

Read more about the causes of a kidney infection

Who’s at risk?

Kidney infections are relatively rare. It’s estimated that one in every 830 people develops a kidney infection each year in the UK.

They can happen at any age, but are much more common in women. In fact, women are six times more likely to get a kidney infection than men. This is because a woman’s urethra is shorter, making it easier for bacteria to reach the kidneys.

Younger women are most at risk because they tend to be more sexually active, and having frequent sex increases the chances of getting a kidney infection.

Younger children are also vulnerable to developing kidney infections because they may be born with an abnormality of the urinary tract or have a condition called vesico-ureteric reflux, where there is a backflow of urine from the bladder up to the kidneys.

Can kidney infections be prevented?

You can reduce your chances of developing a kidney infection by keeping your bladder and urethra free from bacteria. This can include drinking plenty of fluids, keeping your genitals clean and treating any constipation.

Read more about preventing a kidney infection

Symptoms of kidney infections

The symptoms of a kidney infection usually develop quite quickly over a few hours or days.

Common symptoms include:

• pain and discomfort in your side, lower back or around your genitals
• high temperature (it may reach 39. 5C or 103.1F)
• shivering or chills
• feeling very weak or tired
• loss of appetite
• feeling sick or being sick 
• diarrhoea

You may have other symptoms if you also have cystitis or urethritis (an infection of the urethra). These additional symptoms may include:

• pain or a burning sensation during urination
• need to urinate frequently or urgently
• feeling that you’re unable to urinate fully
• blood in your urine
• cloudy or foul smelling urine
• pain in your lower abdomen

Children

Children with a kidney infection may also have additional symptoms, such as:

• a lack of energy
• irritability
• poor feeding and/or vomiting
• not growing at the expected rate
• abdominal pain
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)
• blood in the urine
• unpleasant smelling urine
• bedwetting

When to seek medical advice

Contact your GP if you have a high temperature, persistent pain, or if you notice a change to your usual pattern of urination. Contact your GP immediately if you think your child may have a kidney infection.

If you have blood in your urine, you should always see your GP so the cause can be investigated.

Kidney infections require prompt treatment with antibiotics to help relieve symptoms and prevent complications developing.

Your GP can carry out some simple tests to help diagnose a kidney infection.

See diagnosing kidney infections for more information

Causes of kidney infections

A kidney infection happens when bacteria infects your kidneys. The bacteria are usually a type called E. coli, which live in your bowel.

The bacteria get in through the opening of the urethra and move upwards through your urinary tract, first infecting your bladder and then your kidneys.

It’s thought the bacteria can get into your urinary tract by accidentally spreading from your anus to your urethra. This can happen if you wipe your bottom after going to the toilet and the soiled toilet paper comes into contact with your genitals. It can also happen during sex.

In rare cases, a kidney infection can develop if bacteria or fungi infect the skin and the infection spreads through your bloodstream into your kidney. However, this type of infection usually only occurs in people with weakened immune systems.

Who’s most likely to get a kidney infection?

Women and children are most at risk of developing a kidney infection, as well as other urinary tract infections (UTIs) such as cystitis.

In women, the urethra is closer to the anus than in men, making it easier for bacteria from the anus to enter the urethra accidentally. The female urethra is also much shorter than the male urethra (which runs through the penis). This makes it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder and move into the kidneys.

Other factors can also put you more at risk of developing a kidney infection, including:

• having a condition that blocks, or obstructs, your urinary tract, such as kidney stones or an enlarged prostate – children with constipation can also be at an increased risk
• being born with an abnormality in your urinary tract
• having a condition that prevents you emptying your bladder fully, such as an injury to your spinal cord – this can allow bacteria in your bladder to multiply and spread
• having a weakened immune system – for example, due to type 2 diabetes or as a side effect of chemotherapy
• having an infection of the prostate gland called prostatitis – the infection can spread from the prostate gland into the kidneys 
• having a urinary catheter (a thin, flexible tube inserted into your bladder to drain away urine)
• being female and sexually active – sexual intercourse can irritate the urethra and allow bacteria to travel into your bladder
• being a man who has anal sex – bacteria can travel up the urethra into the bladder
• being pregnant – this can cause physical changes that slow the flow of urine out of your body and make it easier for bacteria to spread to the kidneys
• having undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) – an illegal practice where a woman’s genitals are deliberately cut or changed for cultural, religious and social reasons

Diagnosing kidney infections

To work out if you have a kidney infection, your GP will ask you about your symptoms and your recent medical history.

They will usually also assess your general health by taking your temperature and measuring your blood pressure.

Urine test

A urine test can help to establish whether you have a urinary tract infection (UTI). The test involves taking a small sample of urine and checking it to see if there are any bacteria in it.

You’ll be given a container and told how to collect the urine, which you can do in the surgery or at home. If you do it at home, you’ll need to label the container, seal it in a plastic bag and store it in the fridge. Ideally, hand it in to the surgery within four hours.

A urine test can’t tell whether the infection – if you have one – is in your kidneys or another part of your urinary system, such as your bladder.

For your GP to be confident you have a kidney infection, you need to have a positive urine test plus certain symptoms, such as a fever or a pain in your side.

Hospital scans

You may be referred to hospital for further testing if:

• your symptoms fail to respond to treatment with antibiotics
• your symptoms suddenly get worse
• you have additional symptoms that aren’t usually associated with a kidney infection
• you’re at risk of complications of a kidney infection

Children with recurrent UTIs will also be referred to hospital for further testing.

In these circumstances, scans can check your urinary tract for signs of problems. This may include:

• a computer tomography (CT) scan – where a scanner takes a series of X-rays and a computer is used to assemble them into a detailed image of your urinary tract
• an ultrasound scan – which uses sound waves to build an image of the inside of your body
• an isotope scan – where a dye is injected into the bloodstream and a series of X-rays are taken

Read more about treating a kidney infection

Treating kidney infections

Most people with a kidney infection can be treated at home with a course of antibiotics, and possibly painkillers as well.

See your GP if you have a fever and persistent tummy, lower back or genital pain, or if you notice a change to your usual pattern of urination.

All children with symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or kidney infection, including cystitis, should see their GP or out-of-hours emergency service.

Medication

Antibiotics

If you’re being treated at home, you’ll usually be prescribed a course of antibiotic tablets or capsules that lasts between seven and 14 days.

For most people – apart from pregnant women – antibiotics called ciprofloxacin or Co-amoxiclav are recommended. However, other antibiotics may also be used.

Common side effects of ciprofloxacin include feeling sick and diarrhoea.

Co-amoxiclav can make the contraceptive pill and contraceptive patches less effective, so you may need to use another form of contraception during the course of treatment.

A 14-day course of an antibiotic called cefalexin is recommended for pregnant women.

Usually, you’ll start to feel better quite soon after treatment starts and you should feel completely better after about two weeks.

If your symptoms show no sign of improvement 24 hours after treatment starts, contact your GP for advice.

Painkillers

Taking a painkiller such as paracetamol should help relieve symptoms of pain and a high temperature.

However, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen aren’t usually recommended to relieve pain during a kidney infection. This is because they may increase the risk of further kidney problems.

Self-help tips

If you have a kidney infection, try not to “hover” over the toilet seat when you go to the loo, because it can result in your bladder not being fully emptied.

It’s also important to drink plenty of fluids, because this will help prevent dehydration and will help to flush out the bacteria from your kidneys. Aim to drink enough so that you’re frequently passing pale-coloured urine.

Make sure that you get plenty of rest. A kidney infection can be physically draining, even if you’re normally healthy and strong. It may take up to two weeks before you’re fit enough to return to work.

Treatment at hospital

Your GP may refer you to hospital if you have an underlying problem with your urinary tract, which makes you vulnerable to kidney infections.

It’s standard practice to further investigate all men with a kidney infection simply because the condition is much rarer in men. Only women who have had two or more kidney infections tend to be referred. Most children with a kidney infection will be treated in hospital.

Hospital treatment may also be needed if:

• you’re severely dehydrated
• you’re unable to swallow or keep down any fluids or medications
• you have additional symptoms that suggest you may have blood poisoning, such as a rapid heartbeat and losing consciousness
• you’re pregnant and you also have a high temperature
• you’re particularly frail and your general health is poor 
• your symptoms fail to improve within 24 hours of starting treatment with antibiotics
• you have a weakened immune system
• you have a foreign body inside your urinary tract, such as a kidney stone or a urinary catheter
• you have diabetes
• you’re over the age of 65
• you have an underlying condition that affects the way your kidneys work, such as polycystic kidney disease or chronic kidney disease

If you’re admitted to hospital with a kidney infection, you’ll probably be attached to a drip so you can be given fluids to help keep you hydrated. Antibiotics can also be given through the drip.

You’ll have regular blood and urine tests to monitor your health and how effectively the antibiotics are fighting off the infection.

Most people respond well to treatment. As long as there are no complications, they’re usually well enough to leave hospital within three to seven days. Treatment will usually switch to tablets or capsules after you stop receiving antibiotics through a drip.

Complications of kidney infections

Most kidney infections are treated successfully without complications, although some people may develop further problems.

Complications of a kidney infection are rare, but you’re more likely to develop them if you:

• are a child
• are over 65
• are pregnant
• have diabetes, chronic kidney disease or sickle cell anaemia
• have had a kidney transplant (particularly in the first three months after the transplant)
• have a weakened immune system
• developed the kidney infection while in hospital

Some of the main complications of kidney infections are outlined below.

Kidney abscess

A kidney abscess is a rare, but serious, complication of a kidney infection, where pus develops inside the tissue of the kidney.

You’re thought to be most at risk of developing a kidney abscess if you have diabetes.

The symptoms of a kidney abscess are similar to those of a kidney infection. The most common are:

• a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
• chills
• abdominal pain
• loss of appetite
• pain when passing urine

Kidney abscesses are potentially serious because the bacteria inside the abscess can spread to other parts of your body, such as your bloodstream or lungs, and can be fatal.

Smaller abscesses can usually be treated with antibiotics through a drip. Surgery is usually required for larger abscesses. This involves draining the pus out of the abscess using a needle that’s inserted into the kidney.

Blood poisoning

Blood poisoning (also called sepsis) is another rare, but potentially fatal, complication of a kidney infection.  It happens when bacteria spreads from the kidneys into the bloodstream. Once bacteria are in your blood, the infection can spread to any part of your body, including all of the major organs.

In someone with a kidney infection, the symptoms of blood poisoning include:

• low blood pressure, which makes you feel dizzy when you stand up
• confusion or disorientation
• excessive sweating
• uncontrollable shaking or shivering
• high temperature or lower body temperature than usual (under 36C, or 96.8F)
• pale skin
• rapid heartbeat
• breathlessness

Blood poisoning is a medical emergency that usually requires admission to a hospital intensive care unit (ICU) while antibiotics are used to fight the infection.

If you’re taking certain medications for diabetes, such as metformin or angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, they may be temporarily withdrawn until you recover. This is because they can cause kidney damage during an episode of blood poisoning.

Severe infection

Another rare, but potentially fatal, complication of a kidney infection is a condition called emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN).

EPN is a severe infection, where the tissues of the kidneys are rapidly destroyed and the bacteria causing the infection begin to release a toxic gas, which builds up inside the kidneys.

The exact cause of EPN is unclear, but almost all cases are in people with diabetes.

The usual treatment is emergency surgery to remove some, or all, of the affected kidney. It’s possible to live a full and active life with only one kidney.

Kidney failure

In very rare cases, a kidney infection can cause severe kidney damage that results in kidney failure. This is when the kidneys stop working properly.

Kidney failure is potentially fatal, but it can be treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Other problems

A kidney infection can also cause other complications, including high blood pressure (hypertension) or premature labour or birth.

Preventing kidney infections

The best way to prevent a kidney infection is to keep your bladder and urethra free from bacteria.

These self-help tips explain how you can do this.

Drink plenty of liquids

Drinking plenty of liquids, particularly water, will help to wash bacteria from your bladder and urinary tract.

Drinking cranberry juice or taking cranberry extracts may also help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs). However, you should avoid cranberry juice or extracts if you’re taking warfarin, a medicine used to prevent blood clots. Cranberry juice can make the effects of warfarin more potent, so there’s a risk of excessive bleeding.

Toilet tips

To help keep your urinary tract free from bacteria:

• go to the toilet as soon as you feel the need to urinate, rather than holding it in
• wipe from front to back after going to the toilet
• practice good hygiene by washing your genitals every day and before having sex
• empty your bladder after having sex
• if you’re a woman, avoid “hovering” over a toilet seat as this position can often leave urine behind in the bladder

Treat constipation

Constipation can increase your chances of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI), so try to treat any constipation promptly.

Recommended treatments for constipation include:

• increasing the amount of fibre in your diet to 20-30g of fibre a day
• using a mild laxative on a short-term basis
• drinking plenty of fluids

See your GP if your symptoms don’t improve after 14 days (or seven days for children with constipation).

Read more about treating constipation

Be careful with contraceptives

If you keep getting UTIs (more than three a year is considered high), avoid using spermicide-coated condoms or diaphragms. This is because spermicide can stimulate the production of bacteria. 

Stick to lubricated condoms without spermicide, because unlubricated ones can irritate the urethra and make it more vulnerable to infection.

Symptoms & Causes of Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis)

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• Español

What are the symptoms of kidney infections?

Symptoms of kidney infections vary by age. Symptoms may include

• chills
• fever
• pain in your back, side, or groin
• nausea
• vomiting
• cloudy, dark, bloody, or foul-smelling urine
• frequent, painful urination

Symptoms of a kidney infection may
include chills; fever; and frequent, painful urination.

A child younger than 2 years old with a kidney infection may only have a high fever.

An adult older than age 65 with a kidney infection may have none of the typical symptoms. An older person may only have problems with thinking, such as

• confusion
• hallucinations
• jumbled speech

Seek care right away

Seek care right away if you have kidney infection symptoms. A kidney infection can sometimes lead to a dangerous condition called sepsis, which can be life threatening. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills, rapid breathing and heart rate, rash, and confusion.

A kidney infection that becomes chronic, or long lasting, can cause permanent damage to your kidneys.

What causes a kidney infection?

Kidney infections are caused by bacteria or viruses.

Scientists believe that most kidney infections start as a bladder infection that moves upstream to infect one or both of your kidneys. Most often, the infection is caused by bacteria that normally live in your bowel. The urinary tract has several ways to prevent infection from moving up the urinary tract. For example, urination most often flushes out bacteria before it reaches the bladder. Sometimes your body can’t fight the bacteria and the bacteria cause a UTI. If you don’t get medical treatment to stop the infection, the bacteria may infect your kidneys.

In some cases, your blood can carry bacteria or viruses from another part of your body to your kidneys.

Last Reviewed April 2017

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Definition & Facts

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This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

The NIDDK would like to thank:
Ann E. Stapleton, MD, FIDSA, FACP, University of Washington School of Medicine

Pyelonephritis, kidney infection symptoms, treatment

What are the symptoms of a kidney infection?

Kidney infection symptoms vary with age. Symptoms may include

• chills
• fever
• pain in the back, side or groin
• nausea
• vomiting
• cloudy, dark, bloody or foul-smelling urine
• frequent, painful urination

A child under 2 years of age with a kidney infection may only have a high fever.

An adult over 65 with a kidney infection may not have any typical symptoms. An older person may have problems with thinking, such as:

• Confusion in the head
• hallucinations
• disorderly speech

Get help right away

Get help right away if you have symptoms of a kidney infection. A kidney infection can sometimes lead to a dangerous condition called sepsis, which can be life-threatening. Symptoms of sepsis include fever, chills, rapid breathing and heart rate, rash, and confusion.

Kidney infection that becomes chronic or prolonged can cause permanent kidney damage.

What causes a kidney infection?

Kidney infections are caused by bacteria or viruses.

Scientists believe that most kidney infections start with a bladder infection that travels upstream to infect one or both of your kidneys. Most often, the infection is caused by bacteria that normally live in the intestines. The urinary tract has several ways to prevent infection from traveling up the urinary tract. For example, urination most often flushes out bacteria before it reaches the bladder. Sometimes your body can’t fight bacteria and the bacteria cause a UTI. If you don’t get medical attention to stop the infection, the bacteria can infect your kidneys.

In some cases, your blood can carry bacteria or viruses from another part of your body to your kidneys.

Diagnosing a kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

How do healthcare workers diagnose a kidney infection?

Health care providers use your medical history, physical examination, and tests to diagnose a kidney infection.

Your doctor will ask if you have a history of health conditions that increase your chances of developing a kidney infection. During the physical examination, a health worker will ask you about your symptoms.

If you are a man and your doctor suspects you have a kidney infection, he or she may perform a digital rectal examination (DRE). During a DRE, a health worker asks you to lean over a table or lie on your side with your knees close to your chest. Wearing a glove, the health worker places a lubricated finger into the anus to check for a swollen or enlarged prostate blocking the bladder neck.

What tests do doctors use to diagnose a kidney infection?

Doctors may use lab or imaging tests to diagnose a kidney infection.

Laboratory tests

Urinalysis . For urinalysis, you will collect a urine sample in a special container in a doctor’s office or laboratory. A healthcare professional will examine the sample under a microscope for the presence of bacteria and white blood cells, which the body produces to fight infection. The bacteria can also be found in the urine of healthy people, so a kidney infection is diagnosed based on symptoms and laboratory testing.

Urine culture . A healthcare professional may culture the urine to find out which bacteria are causing the infection. A healthcare professional can see the bacteria multiply, usually within 1-3 days, and then determine the best treatment.

Diagnostic tests

A health care provider may use diagnostic tests, such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (ultrasound), or ultrasound, to help diagnose a kidney infection. A technician performs these tests at the NT-Medicine clinic. A technician can perform an ultrasound in a doctor’s office. The radiologist also reads the image reports. You do not need anesthesia for these tests. Learn more about urinary tract tomography tests.

Treatment of a kidney infection (pyelonephritis)

How do healthcare workers treat kidney infections?

If you have a kidney infection, your healthcare provider will prescribe antibiotics. Even before your test results are in, a healthcare professional may prescribe an antibiotic that fights the most common types of bacteria. While you may experience relief from your symptoms, be sure to take any antibiotics your healthcare provider prescribes.

Once the lab results are in, the healthcare provider can switch the antibiotic to one that best treats your type of infection. You can take these antibiotics by mouth, through a vein in your arm called an IV, or both.

If you become very ill with a kidney infection, you can go to the clinic for bed rest.

If something, such as a kidney stone or an enlarged prostate, is blocking your urinary tract, your doctor may solve the problem with surgery or another procedure.

How can I make sure my kidney infection is completely gone?

If you have recently had a kidney infection, your health care provider will repeat urine cultures frequently after you finish treatment to make sure your infection has gone completely and hasn’t returned. If the second test shows an infection, you may take another round of antibiotics. If your infection comes back, he or she may prescribe antibiotics for a longer period of time.

If your healthcare provider prescribes antibiotics, take all antibiotics prescribed and follow your doctor’s advice. Even if you start to feel better, you must complete the full course of medication.

How can I prevent a kidney infection?

Many kidney infections start with a bladder infection, so preventing bladder infections can help prevent kidney infections. Scientists are still trying to figure out the best way to prevent bladder infections, but these small changes to your daily habits can help:

Drink plenty of fluids, especially water

Fluids can help clear bacteria from the urinary system. Most healthy people should try to drink 200 grams of fluid each day. If you need to drink less water due to other conditions, such as bladder problems, kidney failure, or heart disease, ask your doctor how much fluid is good for you.

Wipe from front to back after using the toilet

Women should wipe from front to back to prevent bacteria from entering the urethra. This step is most important after a bowel movement.

Urinate frequently and when the urge occurs

Try to urinate at least every 3-4 hours. Bacteria are more likely to grow in the bladder when urine stays in the bladder for too long.

Urinate after sex

Both women and men should urinate shortly after sex to flush out bacteria that may have entered the urethra during sex.

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Pyelonephritis: symptoms and price of treatment

Inflammation and infection of one or both kidneys with bacteria is called pyelonephritis. It is necessary to distinguish between primary and secondary pyelonephritis. Secondary pyelonephritis always develops as a result of impaired outflow of urine from the kidney, due to various reasons (most often a kidney stone). In the primary form of pyelonephritis, the outflow of urine from the upper urinary tract is not disturbed.

The kidneys function and remove waste products from the body in the form of urine. Urine from the kidneys passes to the bladder, from where it is excreted through the urethra. Kidneys in their healthy state are sterile, that is, they are not infected with bacteria. However, as a result of various reasons (more often as a result of inflammatory processes, anatomical features), bacteria, penetrating the urethra and rising along the walls into the bladder, enter the ureters, and from there straight to the kidneys.

Very often this variant of kidney infection is possible in women during acute cystitis. Cystitis is very common among women and occurs in 3 percent of adult women each year. Fortunately for the latter, bladder infections do not always lead to pyelonephritis (approximately 2 patients in 30 cases of urinary tract infections). The risk of pyelonephritis increases during pregnancy, with obstruction of the urinary system (kidney stones), in people with changes in the urinary system (eg, bladder diverticulum), with diabetes, and with a weakened immune system.

What are the symptoms of pyelonephritis?

The main manifestations of pyelonephritis are pain in the lumbar region or hypochondrium with high fever, chills, usually with frequent, imperative and / or painful urination. Many people experience nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Less common symptoms are clouding of consciousness or loss of consciousness in case of sepsis or shock (if bacteria enter the bloodstream from an infected kidney) in patients with severe forms of pyelonephritis.

It is very important to understand that such a disease is severe and even life-threatening, and in the event of such symptoms, you should immediately seek medical help!

There are many other abdominal conditions that can present with similar symptoms. For example, appendicitis, cholecystitis, perforated stomach ulcer. Thus, one of the first steps for the attending physician to make a diagnosis, in addition to collecting complaints, is to determine if the urine is contaminated!

How to treat pyelonephritis?

The main drugs in the case of pyelonephritis are broad-spectrum antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and detoxification drugs! It is necessary to know and remember that the appointment of antibiotics is prohibited until the outflow of urine from the infected kidney is restored! Often, oral antibiotics are sufficient, but with severe infection and/or nausea and vomiting, intravenous antibiotics may be required until the patient is fully recovered. To eliminate the infection and prevent recurrence of the disease, a long course of treatment is carried out, usually a total of 2 to 4 weeks.

Surgical intervention is resorted to in case of purulent-destructive changes in the kidney!

Frequently Asked Questions:

What tests are needed to confirm pyelonephritis?
If pyelonephritis is suspected, it is first of all necessary to conduct an ultrasound examination of the kidneys and bladder, blood and urine tests with culture to determine the microflora and sensitivity to antibiotics. The most accurate method to determine the cause and location of obstruction is computed tomography or multispiral computed tomography.

What are the consequences of previous pyelonephritis?
With proper and timely treatment, the prognosis is favorable! In the case of a severe form of pyelonephritis with complications, a transition to a chronic form is possible with the appearance of renal failure, arterial hypertension, and even death of the kidney.

Which antibiotics should I take?
The bacteria that cause pyelonephritis may be resistant to some antibiotics.