Kidney infection
A kidney infection is an unpleasant and painful condition known as cystitis, a common bladder infection. Mostly, people with cystitis will not develop a kidney infection, but rarely the bacteria travel from the bladder into one or both kidneys. If treated with antibiotics immediately, a kidney infection doesn’t cause severe harm but sickness. If not treated immediately, the infection can worsen and might lead to permanent kidney damage.
Kidney infection symptoms
Kidney infection symptoms often develop within a few hours. You will feel shivery, sick, feverish, and back or side pain. In addition, you may also have the following symptoms of a urinary tract infection:
- Often urination
- Burning sensation or pain while urination
- Cloudy or smelly urine
- Urine with blood
Kidney infections causes
A bacteria called E. coli is the primary reason behind kidney infection. The particular bacteria get into the tube that helps to carry urine out of the body. The bacteria can also travel up the bladder, causing cystitis and reaching the kidneys.
E. coli bacteria usually live in the bowel, where it causes no harm. During intercourse, they often transfer to the bottom of the genitals. A kidney infection rarely develops without a bladder infection, for example, kidney problems like kidney stones.
Kidney infections prevention
Maintaining the urethra and bladder bacteria-free is the best way to prevent kidney infections. Following are the way to keep your bladder and urethra bacteria-free:
- Stay hydrated, drink a lot of fluids
- Don’t hold back your urine; go as soon as you feel the need
- Urinate right after the intercourse
- Wash your genitals every day and before having intercourse
- Make sure you treat your constipation right away since it can increase your risk of developing UTIs
If you are often developing urine infections, consult a doctor. They might prescribe you a low dose of antibiotics.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022