Your kidneys play a huge role in your overall health. They filter the blood to remove harmful waste and excess water, which is removed from the body as urine.
Kidney infections happen when bacteria like E. Coli travel to it. The condition is known as pyelonephritis, a type of Urinary Tract Infection or UTI.
The Cause of Kidney Infections
Bacteria and viruses cause kidney infections. The most common way they get to the organs is through the urethra.
The urethra is a tube where urine passes to get expelled from the body. It can become an entrance for bacteria to travel to the kidneys. Women are more prone to UTIs because their urethra is close to the anus.
Infection from other body parts can also travel to the kidneys. When bacteria get into the bloodstream, they can travel to the organ. On rare occasions, an infection could happen after surgery.
No matter the cause of kidney infection, it is crucial to address it as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Kidney Infection
Kidney infections have many symptoms. Common signs are a change in your urine and a burning sensation when you urinate. Other symptoms are as follows:
- A strong urge to urinate, but only a little urine is expelled
- The feeling of a full bladder, even after urinating
- Bad-smelling urine
- Cloudy-colored urine
- Blood or pus in the urine
- Abdominal pains
- Groin pains
- Fever and chills
- Nausea and vomiting
Once you notice these symptoms, you need to get a kidney infection diagnosis with your doctor.
How Is Kidney Infection Diagnosis Done
A doctor will begin a kidney infection diagnosis by asking about the symptoms you’ve experienced. They do this to determine what type of UTI they are dealing with.
The first test they do is a urinalysis. Its purpose is to check if your urine sample contains blood or bacteria. If the latter is present, the doctor may do a urine culture to identify the type of bacteria. In doing so, they can determine the proper treatment.
Other kidney infection tests include:
- Rectal examination in males to check for an enlarged prostate
- Ultrasound or MRI to inspect the kidneys
- X-rays to check problems in the urethra and bladder
Treatment for Kidney Infections
Treating kidney infections often involve the use of antibiotics. For mild cases, the medicine is taken orally. The doctor will prescribe an antibiotic treatment that lasts for two to three weeks.
Once the medication is completed, another round of kidney infection tests will determine if the treatment was effective.
Complications From Kidney Infections
Not getting treatment for kidney infections can lead to several complications. The most common is blood poisoning. When the bacteria enter the bloodstream, other body parts can get infected. Kidney damage is also a possibility.
Kidney Infection Diagnosis and Treatment at PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care
The kidneys play a vital role in keeping your body clean and healthy. If they get infected, they risk facing a variety of health complications. Allowing an infection to continue can lead to a complete shutdown of the organs, which is dangerous for anybody.
Ideally, you should schedule a kidney infection diagnosis and treatment with your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms. However, the infection could already be severe if you find blood or pus in your urine.
Unlike most ERs or urgent care centers in the area, PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care in Albuquerque, patients are only billed for the level of services they need. The ER and urgent care are open 24 hours a day, every day. No appointment is required for in-person visits.
PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care has four convenient locations:
- PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care Paseo/San Pedro is located at 6400 Paseo Del Norte Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87113, and may be reached at 505-596-2100.
- PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care Coors/Western Trail is located at 4515 Coors Blvd. NW Albuquerque, NM 87120, and may be reached at 505-596-2200.
- PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care Isleta/Rio Bravo is located at 3436 Isleta Blvd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105, and may be reached at 505-596-2300.
- PRESNow 24/7 Urgent and Emergency Care Menaul/Pennsylvania is located at 7400 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, and may be reached at 505-596-2400.
