Ways To Lower Your Risk Of A Kidney Infection
- Drink lots of water
- Never procrastinate when you need to go
- Always urinate after having sex
- Always wipe from front to back
- Avoid douches and deodorant sprays in the genital area
Contact Oxford Urology Associates immediately if you experience any symptoms of a kidney infection or a urinary tract infection.
As always, if you have any further questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 234-1448 today!
How Is A Kidney Infection Diagnosis Confirmed
If youre feeling signs of a kidney infection, you should seek medical attention as soon as you can, if possible. A kidney infection can be serious because it can sometimes lead to a dangerous, life-threatening health condition called .
Even if your infection doesnt progress to that, a kidney infection can become chronic, i.e., long-lasting, and can cause permanent damage to your kidneys. Dr. Kaufman recommends heading to your local urgent care facility or emergency room if you have signs of a kidney infection.
For your doctor, diagnosing a kidney infection is pretty straightforward. They should start with lab tests like a urinalysis, which just involves peeing in a cup on your end. After you hand over your sample, the urine is examined under a microscope to check for the presence of bacteria and infection-fighting white blood cells. To see what kind of bacteria youre dealing with, the urine should also be cultured over the course of one to three days, according to the NIDDK. In some cases, your doc might also order imaging tests like a CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound to take a closer look at your kidneys.
Kidney Infection Versus Uti: Whats The Difference
Kidney infections are a type of UTI, but its often more aggressive because the bladder infection has spread further up the urinary tract. So, if you hold off on seeking treatment, things can maybe start to get dicey. This is a serious organ infection and people need to take care of it, David Kaufman, MD, a urologist at New Yorks Central Park Urology, tells SELF. Bladder infections are uncomfortable, but kidney infections can be deadly.
As for how long it takes for a bladder infection to turn into a kidney infection? Theres no one-size-fits-all answer, but once infection-causing bacteria make their way from the bladder up into the kidneys, a persons symptoms can start to intensify very suddenly.
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Why I Urinate Frequently At Night
Chronic renal failure patients will have increased urine output and the frequency of urination will also increase especially frequent urination at nights. This will severely affect patients sleep quality and it has bothered a lot of patients especially the elderly patients.
Here I will tell you why renal failure patients will urinate frequently at night.
Usually when GFR reduces to 10%-25% and creatinine is elevated to 450-707, there will be obvious increased night urination and at the same time there will be anemia, water and electrolyte disorder, blood in urine and bubbles in urine.
Under normal circumstances, urine output at night is less than that during the daytime because of low metabolism and slow blood flow at nights.
However if there is frequent urination at night and much increased night urine output and this condition lasts for a long time, it usually indicates kidney problems.
In case of many kidney diseasesglomerular diseases, chronic tubular interstitial diseases, the first symptom and sign will be frequent night urination due to declined renal function of concentration. High blood pressure and diabetes are common factors that can damage renal concentration function and cause frequent night urination and increased night urine output.
Of cause frequent urination at night is not definitely related to kidney problems. The following are some conditions that need to be first ruled out.
Food Tastes Like Metal
Why this happens:
A build-up of wastes in the blood can make food taste different and cause bad breath. You may also notice that you stop liking to eat meat, or that you are losing weight because you just dont feel like eating.
What patients said:
Foul taste in your mouth. Almost like youre drinking iron.
I dont have the appetite I had before I started dialysis, I must have lost about 10 pounds.
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Is It Safe To Take Antibiotics Long
While there are some common side effects and risk for creating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, it is safe to take antibiotics preventively under the guidance of your physician.
If you have recurring UTIs , you may benefit from a low-dose prophylactic antibiotic, Dr. Sussman said. Some may require intermittent treatment at the sign of symptoms, while others may require a single dose after sexual intercourse or when symptoms occur. However, its important you discuss the underlying causes with your doctor before being prescribed antibiotics prophylactically.
Back Side Or Groin Pain
Your kidneys are located deep against the back muscles in your upper abdominal area, so its common to experience pain in that region. If Im examining you, Im going to first tap you on the back where your kidneys are and people with a kidney infection will likely jump right off the table from the pain, says Leisman. Thats because your kidneys are in a capsule where theres not a lot of space, so if it gets inflamed at all, its incredibly painful.
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Get Faster More Accurate Answers About Your Uti Symptoms With A Pcr Test In Jacksonville Fl
Whether you have intense burning on urination or simply dont feel like yourself, you deserve accurate answers and rapid relief when it comes to your urinary tract infection. To learn more about the benefits of a PCR urine test and how to prevent future UTIs, Kasraeian Urology in Jacksonville, FL to schedule your private consultation with board-certified urologists Dr. Ahmad Kasraeian or Dr. Ali Kasraeian today.
What Are The Kidneys And What Do They Do
Healthy kidneys filter about a half cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and extra water to make urine. The urine flows from each kidney to the bladder through a pair of thin tubes called ureters, one on each side of your bladder. Your bladder stores urine. Your kidneys, ureters, and bladder are part of your urinary tract system.
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How Long Does A Uti Last
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If you have a UTI, its best to get it treated right away before any complications develop . Its possible for a UTI to get better on its own, but most of the time, it wont. While home remedies can help ease some of the discomfort, a doctor can prescribe you an antibiotic that is a much quicker and more effective treatment. An antibiotic will start working immediately and, depending on how complicated your UTI is, may clear it up in a matter of days. Be sure to always take your medication how your doctor prescribes.
How Long Does It Take For A Urine Test To Come Back From The Lab Uti
The results of a urine culture are usually available in 1 to 3 days. You can go back to your usual activities right away. If your urine test result shows that you have bacteria in your urine, it doesnt always mean you have a urine infection. Your test result may show bacteria if your urine sample was contaminated.
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Can Utis Be Prevented
A few things can help prevent UTIs. After peeing, girls should wipe from front to back with toilet paper. After BMs, wipe from front to back to avoid spreading bacteria from the rectal area to the urethra.
Also, go to the bathroom when needed and don’t hold the pee in. Pee that stays in the bladder gives bacteria a good place to grow.
Keep the genital area clean and dry. Girls should change their tampons and pads regularly during their periods. Bubble baths can irritate the vaginal area, so girls should take showers or plain baths. Avoid long exposure to moisture in the genital area by not wearing nylon underwear or wet swimsuits. Wearing underwear with cotton crotches is also helpful. Skip using feminine hygiene sprays or douches, as these can irritate the urethra.
If you are sexually active, go to the bathroom both before and within 15 minutes after sex. After sex, gently wash the genital area to remove any bacteria. Avoid sexual positions that irritate or hurt the urethra or bladder. Couples who use lubrication during sex should use a water-soluble lubricant such as K-Y Jelly.
Finally, drinking lots of water each day keeps the bladder active and bacteria-free.
UTIs are uncomfortable and often painful, but they’re common and easily treated. The sooner you contact your doctor, the sooner you’ll be able to get rid of the problem.
How Are Utis Treated
UTIs are treated with antibiotics. After several days of antibiotics, your doctor may repeat the urine tests to be sure that the infection is gone. It’s important to make sure of this because an incompletely treated UTI can come back or spread.
If someone has a lot of pain from a UTI, the doctor may recommend a medicine to help relieve the spasm and pain in the bladder. This will turn pee a bright orange color, but it’s harmless and will usually make a person much more comfortable within hours. In the case of a kidney infection, a doctor may prescribe pain medicine.
If you’ve finished all the medicine or if your symptoms aren’t much better after 2 to 3 days of treatment, contact your doctor.
Drink lots of water during and after treatment because each time you pee, the bladder cleanses itself a little bit more. Cranberry juice may also be helpful. Skip drinks that containe caffeine , such as soda and iced tea.
People who get a doctor’s help for a UTI right away should be clear of symptoms within a week. Someone with a more severe infection may need treatment in a hospital so they can get antibiotics by injection or IV .
A doctor may tell people with UTIs to avoid sex for a week or so, which lets the inflammation clear up completely.
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When To See Your Doctor
See your doctor right away if you have signs of a urinary tract infection. A bladder infection is generally not a medical emergency — but some people have a higher risk for complications. This includes pregnant women, the elderly, and men, as well as people with diabetes, kidney problems, or a weakened immune system.
Symptoms Of Kidney Infection
Symptoms of pyelonephritis often begin suddenly with chills, fever, pain in the lower part of the back on either side, nausea, and vomiting.
, including frequent, painful urination. One or both kidneys may be enlarged and painful, and doctors may find tenderness in the small of the back on the affected side. Sometimes the muscles of the abdomen are tightly contracted. Irritation from the infection or the passing of a kidney stone can cause spasms of the ureters. If the ureters go into spasms, people may experience episodes of intense pain . In children, symptoms of a kidney infection Urinary Tract Infection in Children A urinary tract infection is a bacterial infection of the urinary bladder , the kidneys , or both. Urinary tract infections are caused by bacteria. Infants and younger read more often are slight and more difficult to recognize. In older people, pyelonephritis may not cause any symptoms that seem to indicate a problem in the urinary tract. Instead, older people may have a decrease in mental function , fever, or an infection of the bloodstream .
In chronic pyelonephritis, the pain may be vague, and fever may come and go or not occur at all.
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What Happens If A Uti Is Left Untreated
Even if you arent experiencing significant pain or burning, it is still critical that your UTI is treated completely with a full course of the appropriate antibiotic. If left untreated, a UTI can continue to spread throughout your urinary tract, into the kidneys, and beyond, which can cause a number of severe symptoms and even life-threatening complications.
To help patients get the most accurate diagnosis of their urinary tract infection, Dr. Kasraeian often recommends the PCR test. This highly advanced tool offers same-day results and can identify which bacteria is causing the UTI and which antibiotics the pathogen may be sensitive or resistant to, ensuring the best possible chance for quick treatment and rapid relief.
What Causes A Kidney Infection
Most often, the bacteria that cause a kidney infection are the same as those that cause ordinary urinary tract infections. Bacteria found in bowel are the most common type. In rare cases, kidney infections can be caused from bacteria found on the skin or in the environment.
Bacteria enter the body from the skin around the urethra. They then travel up the urethra to the bladder. A kidney infection happens when the bacteria escape the bladder and urethra and travel up the ureters to one or both kidneys. Usually it is only one kidney that develops an infection.
Sometimes, conditions that create a reduced urine flow can contribute to kidney infections. Chiefly because bacteria can more easily travel up the ureters when urine flow slows or stops altogether.
Other common ways bacteria can find its way into the bladder include:
- use of a urinary catheter for draining urine from the bladder
- surgery on the urinary tract
- diagnostic testing that uses a scope to enter the urinary tract, such as cystoscopy
- conditions that block the way the urine flows through the urinary tract, including uterine fibroids, benign prostatic hyperplasia, kidney stones, and pregnancy
- conditions that make a person more prone to infection, such as diabetes
- a problem with the urinary tract that is present at birth
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Treatment For Utis Vs Kidney Infection Treatment
UTIs, including kidney infections, can be treated with a course of antibiotics. The type of antibiotic can depend on the type of bacteria thats causing your infection as well as how severe your infection is.
The doctor will often start you on an antibiotic that works against a wide variety of UTI-causing bacteria. If a urine culture is performed, the doctor may switch your antibiotic to one thats most effective at treating the specific bacterium thats causing your infection.
Simple UTIs can be treated with short 3- to 5-day courses of antibiotics. Treatment for kidney infections generally lasts 7 to 14 days, depending on which class of antibiotic is prescribed.
You may begin to feel better after only a few days on antibiotics. However, you should still make sure that you complete your entire treatment course as prescribed. If you do not take all of your antibiotics, the stronger bacteria may not be killed, causing your infection to persist and flare up again.
If youre pregnant, your doctor may also request a repeat urine sample following a kidney infection, even if your symptoms have resolved. This allows them to check to see whether your infection has completely cleared.
If there are still bacteria present in the sample, you may need another course of antibiotics. Persistence of bacteria can potentially harm an unborn baby.
People with severe kidney infections may need to be hospitalized. In this case, you may receive antibiotics and fluids intravenously.
What Is Good Kidney Disease Care
According to a national review, kidney disease services should:
- identify people at risk of kidney disease, especially people with high blood pressure or diabetes, and treat them as early as possible to maintain their kidney function
- give people access to investigative treatment and follow them up to reduce the risk of the disease getting worse
- give people good-quality information about managing their condition
- provide information about the development of the disease and treatment options
- provide access to a specialist renal team
- give people access to transplant or dialysis services if required
- provide supportive care
Your treatment for kidney disease will need to be reviewed regularly.
It may be helpful for you to make a care plan because this can help you manage your day-to-day health. Your kidney disease specialist nurse may be able to help with this.
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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
Relief Without A Prescription
An over-the-counter drug called phenazopyridine can help ease your pain, burning, and irritation. It also controls your need to pee frequently and urgently.
But there’s a catch. It only works on your symptoms. It doesn’t cure your infection. You still need to see your doctor to make sure you get treatment to fight the bacteria that’s causing your UTI.
Also, one common side effect: It turns your pee dark red or orange while you take it.
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