Kidney Infection
Kidney Infection Causes
Kidney infection typically occurs when bacteria enter your urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply. Bacteria from an infection in your body also can spread through your bloodstream to your kidneys.
Kidney Infection Definition
Kidney infection (pyelonephritis) is a specific type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that generally begins in your urethra or bladder and travels up into your kidneys. Kidney infection, or pyelonephritis, very often results when a bacterial infection moves from the lower urinary tract like bladder, urethra to the kidneys.
Kidney Infection Diagnosis
To diagnose a kidney infection, the health care provider reviews the patient's medical history, checking in particular for a history of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Kidney Infection Symptoms and Signs
Kidney infection may cause one or more of these signs and symptoms: Frequent urination, Strong, persistent urge to urinate, Burning sensation or pain when urinating, Abdominal pain or pressure, Cloudy urine with a strong odor, Pus or blood in your urine (hematuria), Inability to urinate (urine retention), Need to urinate during the night (nocturia), Back, side (flank) or groin pain, Fever.
Kidney Infection Treatment
Drugs commonly recommended for treating kidney infection include: Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox), Quinolones such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and norfloxacin (Noroxin), the antibiotic combination sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra).