Kidney Infections: Signs, Symptoms, Causes, Treatments of Kidney Infections

What is a kidney infection?
A kidney infection is an infection of the kidneys or duct which carries urine from the kidneys. Kidney infections can occur suddenly, called acute kidney infections. Or people may also suffer from chronic kidney infections, infections which recur and are long-standing without being cleared.

What causes kidney infections?
There are a few kidney infection causes. Kidney infections usually occur because of a bladder infection or urinary tract infection. In rare cases, kidneys can also be infected through the bloodstream. There are a few other causes of kidney infections such as catheterization, urinary tract surgery, and other conditions which affect the bladder, such as kidney stones or an enlarged prostate.

Certain factors may also put people at risk for developing a kidney infection. The presence of E. coli in the body causes 90% of kidney infections. Changes in one's immune system from diseases such as diabetes, AIDS, or cancer may increase the risk of kidney infections. For women, kidney infections are more prevalent may be caused by sexual intercourse or pregnancy.

What are the symptoms of a kidney infection?
There are a variety of signs and symptoms of a kidney infection, many of which can be very painful:

- Frequent urination
- Frequent, persistent urge to urinate
- Pain or burning while urinating
- Cloudy urine
- Blood or pus in urine
- Urine retention (inability to urinate)
- Fever
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Groin pain

Kidney infections symptoms worsen if the kidney infection becomes more severe. A very high fever, chills, night sweats, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and night sweats can occur with severe kidney infections.

In children, kidney infection symptoms can vary and include irritability, appetite loss, bed wetting, and loose bowel movements.

What are the treatments for a kidney infection?

Your doctor or health care provider will suggest one of a few methods used to treat kidney infections. Antibiotics are the most common kidney infection treatment. Amoxicillin, Cephalosporin, Levofloxacin (Levaquin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro), and sulfa drugs are often prescribed as treatments. For very severe kidney infections, IV (intravenous) antibiotics may be prescribed.

Kidney infection symptoms usually start to disappear in 2-3 days after treatment.

There are also a few ways and home remedies for a kidney infection which can be to decrease pain. Heating pads, pain medicine, and drinking plenty of fluids may help ease the discomfort of kidney infection symptoms.

Smoking, alcohol, soft drinks, and caffeinated or citric beverages should be avoided.

How to prevent a kidney infection?

There are a few ways to prevent kidney infections or to prevent recurring kidney infections:

- Avoid holding urination
- Increase fluid intake
- Drink cranberry juice
- Shower instead of taking baths
- Keeping genital area very clean and wipe carefully after using the bathroom
- Urinating before and after sexual intercourse
- Wear cotton underwear and loose clothing

However, people with frequent and recurrent kidney infections should see a urologist as this may be a sign of a more serious problem.